First Nations Voice

PAGE 10 • OCTOBER 2014 Don Burnstick Who killeD therena silva? "Creatingfuturesonefamilyatatime!" reatingfuturesonefamilyatatime!" CENTREFORABORIGINALHUMANRESOURCEDEVELOPMENTINC. "C "Cr ENTREFORABO " CAHRD CE MENTINC NTINC. Contactustoday! www.cahrd.org (204)9897110 The Upgrading program provides individuals with the opportunity to advance their skills and prepare for entry into our Academic program or employmentdependingontheirpersonalplan. Studiesavailableinclude: -LanguageArts -Mathematics -BiologicalandEnvironmentalSciences -ComputerApplications Studentscompletingtheupgradingprogramwill increasetheirskillstoagrade10level. (CAHRD) Centre for Aboriginal Human Resource Development Inc. is a non-profit organization that delivers literacy, education, training and employment services to the urban aboriginal population ofWinnipeg. CAHRDislocatedat304-181HigginsAvenue,Winnipeg,MBR3B3G1 T:(204)989-7110 F:(204)989-7113Visitwww.cahrd.orgtoday! "Like"usonFacebook! "Follow"usonTwitter! The Academic program provides accredited educationalcoursesfromtheProvinceofManito- ba.Coursesareofferedinawiderangeofsubject areas and include both general (G) courses and University/Collegeentrance(S)courses. Eight credits are required to achieve a Mature grade 12 diploma, thus an individual may obtain therequirementsin8-10months. Once students have completed the required coursework they are assisted and prepared for entry into post-secondary programming or employment. UpgradingProgram AboriginalCommunityCampus -adivisionofCAHRD AcademicProgram Thinkingofgoingback-to-school! Wecanhelp! Therena Silva is still missed by her family and friends every day. Her mother Geraldine says Therena was an upbeat, happy, generous, warm and compassionate woman, who left her mark on the people she met. Although there is some conflicting information on the date of her disappearance, it is believed that Therena was last seen on June 10, 2002. More than five months later, Therena's body was recovered on December 15, 2002 in the area of Templeton Avenue and Ritchie Street on the outskirts of Winnipeg. The Winnipeg Police Service homicide unit investigated the case as it was determined that Therena had been murdered. Therena Adeline Silva moved from Vancouver, British Columbia to rural Manitoba with her boyfriend and two sons in an effort to improve their lifestyle and overcome her addictions. They eventually moved to Winnipeg where Therena continued to struggle with addiction and her relationship with her boyfriend dissolved. Therena continued to use drugs and alcohol and became involved in the survival sex trade, which left her vulnerable to exploitation. Therena was of Aboriginal and Chilean descent. She was 35 years old, approximately 5'3" and 120 lbs, and had longer hair that she dyed red/brown. She sometimes used the name 'Sapphire' or 'Therena Marsland'. Her mother says it's still hard for Therena's children, whose lives have never been the same. "Somebody out there has information about what happened to Therena. It is time for them to come forward and tell the truth. Someone is living knowing they committed murder. The family wants justice for Therena." Project Devote, an integrated task force between the Winnipeg Police Service and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police whose mandate is to focus on missing and murdered exploited persons' investigations, is actively investigating the murder of Therena Silva. Project Devote is asking for anyone in the community who has information related to this investigation to contact them at the Project Devote tipline at 1-888-673-3316. If you want to remain anonymous, you can call Manitoba CrimeStoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). Project Devote It's the largest music industry event in West- ern Canada and it's soon to hit Winnipeg. The BreakOut West Conference and Festi- val happens from October 2 to 5. The gather- ing in an annual initiative undertaken by six participating members of the Western Cana- dian Music Alliance: Alberta Music Industry Association, SaskMusic, Manitoba Music, Music BC, Music Yukon, and Music NWT. Each year, the weekend of festivities wraps up with the Western Canadian Music Awards, taking place this year on Sunday October 5 at Winnipeg's brand new Club Regent Event Centre. The awards will see dozens of nomi- nees honoured, including five artists vying in the category of Aboriginal Recording of the Year. Cassidy Mann from Winnipeg is nominat- ed for her second EP Blue Skies and Bright Eyes. At only 18 years old, Cassidy's lyrics are heartfelt and honest, telling tales of young love and lessons learnt. Her songs are led by hook-laden melodies, powerful voice, and a tinge of nostalgia well beyond her age. Desiree Dorion from Dauphin has a voice reminiscent of greats like Dolly Parton, and as smooth as her worn-in leather cowboy boots. Her music is as rockin' as the gravel roads around her hometown, and her latest release, Small Town Stories, continues to garner hard- earned attention. Winnipeg act Federal Lights rose out of the ashes of band The Morning After. Singer/ songwriter Jean-Guy Rose released We Were Found in the Fog in 2014, with hooks more refined, lyrics more precise and timeless, and a reso- nant voice as clear as a bright blue prairie sky. BC's Inez Jasper is an award- winning pop artist and p owe r h o u s e talent. One of Canada's top Aboriginal musicians, Jasper's blending of traditional native sounds with a love for contemporary pop music brings the best of her culture to the mainstream world that can be heard on her release Burn Me Down. Vancouver-based Head of the Herd recent- ly completed their sophomore record By This Time Tomorrow, and in doing so, unmistak- ably found their stride. Their debut single hit #1 on the national rock charts, got them on tour with Guns N' Roses, and was used by the NHL during the 2013 playoffs. No matter which way you look at it, and no matter who wins the WCMA on October 5, the caliber of independent talent in Canada keeps getting better. And that's something every up- coming musician today can be proud of. RoseAnna Schick, RAS Creative entertainMent beat Desiree Dorion

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