Picture above at left: What
the Dreamcatchers catch;
Picture at right:
Behind the nebula cloud
Randy Lakota paints using variations of
the ancient First Nation motif, rendering stories of his heritage into the
modern art seen above. Randy was on-hand at UNBC for a wine and cheese affair
hosted by the university and visited by university teachers and administrators
from across Canada, Oct 2 07
Angelique’s Native
Art Boutique
is located at 433 George Street, Prince
George, BC, and the phone number is 1-250-561-2339
EMAIL FOR INFO; Artist: Randy Lakota, 433 George Street Prince George BC
Marcel
Gagnon played UNBC, Treasure Cove Casino, and International Rivers Day, a busy
week
Marcel Gagnon played UNBC
for a large crowd of visitors from across Canada, folks who work and teach at
Canadian universities; earlier in the week he played Treasure Cove Casino in
Prince George, BC (Sep 29 07) in a benefit to fund Aboriginal performers at the
International River’s Day Festival, Sep 30 07, where he also performed, “He’s
is 2 time nominee for the Juno Awards and 2010 Olympic Bid Representative,” said Erin Collins introducing Marcel to a
cozy crowd at the Casino music venue.
Marcel is Lleidhli Tenneh and resident of Prince George, which lies (or
in fact sprawls) in the musician’s home territory.
“When the wizards came they locked our children up
inside,” went an early stream of lyrics, and Marcel’s band provides strong
guitar and vocal support in a tight group that rocks and pounds through
sessions (with no drums). Marcel disclosed an insight into Carrier knowledge
about the spiritual powers of the wolf, “To us Carrier people the wolf is part
of our spiritual nature, kind of dark side.” Marcel said when you meet a wolf
you must take care to avert your eyes or whatever you are doing at the time
will become permanent. He said he met an elder once who continually rolled her
tongue, which, he was informed, she was doing during an encounter with a wolf
and looked into those eyes, when she was young, and uninformed, and ever since
the meeting she habitually rolled her tongue.
The set of songs added up to a beautifully strummed
performance in support of Aboriginal stage performers the next day at
International Rivers Day at Fort George Park, in Prince George, at which Marcel
appeared once again. “The Fraser River is one of the largest rivers in Canada,”
Marcel noted, post concert, “it has always been a concern of ours and we are
organized to bring about awareness,” of the concerns Lheidli Tenneh people have
for the Fraser River.
This First Nation community recently rejected the
proposed land claim. Marcel comes by a political awareness through a lineage
that is more like astonishing than amazing, or in fact adds up to both. His
mother is an Elder 93 years of age, and his grandmother, gone now, lived to 114
years of age. His sister tells the family their mother will outlive them all;
think about it, Marcel Gagnon can draw on oral history going back two hundred
years.
First
Nations student group at UNBC gave a performance to the university visitors and
hosted the performance by Marcel Gagnon.
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