First Nations Voice

OCTOBER 2014 • PAGE 3 MuseuM can be the start of a new dialogue, could it be a catalyst for change? By Trevor Greyeyes P ersonally, I found the opening ceremonies of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights a little long with more speeches than substance but I think it can be a catalyst for dialogue judging from the number of protests the first day. That sentiment about it creating a dialogue was echoed by Wayne Helgason as he waxed poetically comparing the new museum building to a project he and a group of other Aboriginal professionals and organizations undertook 24 years ago with the purchase of what is now known as the Aboriginal Centre of Winnipeg. "I hope it's a place where there is always protestors," said Helgason. "It's an appropriate place for people to voice their opinions." He's been asked to sit as a standing member of the Indigenous advisory committee with the museum and to comment on his areas of interest. For Helgason, there are three areas he'd like to see addressed including a recognition that Aboriginal peoples were here originally, a focus on public education of human rights issues and making sure a human resources plan that includes Aboriginal peoples. Later, as I watched the various broadcasts even Gail Asper, a museum board member, welcomed the protests as a sign that people are exercising their rights. I was impressed with the building as I made my way with other members of the media to the Garden of Contemplation within the building to wait with other members of the media for the opening ceremonies to begin. Even up in the confines of the museum, it was not difficult to hear the sound of various protestors.s However, I must point out that as we all move forward in today's society that the recognition of human rights never occurred without some sort of initial conflict. Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. both demonstrated that nonviolence can be used through peaceful protests. And for anyone who wasn't there that day, it could have been easy enough to shut down the streets a few blocks away, instead of just along Israel Asper Way and keep potential protests well away from the museum's opening ceremonies. Or a darker scenario could have involved the police officers there, in much larger numbers than the protestors, could have removed anyone protesting. There are a host of challenges the museum has to answer but I'll leave that for other columnists. I foresee talking to people on both sides of the issues. Let the dialogue begin. VEHICLES STARTINGFROM $ 6000 INTERESTASLOWAS 0 % PAYMENTSSTARTINGFROM $ 85BW 0% INTEREST 0.A.C. USED CARS STARTINGAT $ 6,000 NO MONEY DOWN O.A.C. EASY 5MINUTE APPROVALPROCESS ALLLEVELS OFCREDIT! 1717 Waverley | sam.melquist@midtown-ford.com midtown-ford.dealerconnection.com INSTANTCREDITAPPROVAL SAMISGOINGTOPROVIDEYOUWHATYOUALREADYKNOWYOUDESERVE SamMelquist 204-296-0079 The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (RWB) is confronting and moving toward reconciliation with Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation telling the story of a young woman coming to terms with her own identity. Commissioned by Artistic Director, André Lewis, with the support of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation opens the 75th season from October 1-5. Going Home Star - Truth and Reconciliation is a representation of the many stories, both told and untold, by Indian Residential School survivors and their families. The Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair, Chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, said, "These are profound, compelling themes, not just for Aboriginal families and communities, but for all Canadians." In the ballet, the audience is introduced to Annie, a young, urban First Nations woman adrift in a contemporary life of youthful excess. But when she meets Gordon, a longhaired trickster disguised as a homeless man, she's propelled into a world she's always sensed but never seen. Not only do they travel the streets of this place but also the roads of their ancestors, learning to accept the other's burdens as the two walk through the past and towards the future. Together, both Annie and Gordon learn that without truth there is no reconciliation. The RWB is giving away free tickets to residential school survivors but tickets are being given out on a first come/ first served basis and keep in mind the ballet runs from October 1-5. By Trevor Greyeyes Ballet explores residential school experience

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