NWT is haven for artists

Sara Wilson and Nicole Garbutt
Monday, January 2, 2012

Throughout the Northwest Territories, artists and art lovers alike made 2011 a memorable year filled with extraordinary achievements as painters, performers and musicians stepped on to the stage.

Leanne Goose of Inuvik was nominated for a 2011 Native American Indigenous Image Award in the category for Outstanding Country Album. She said the album was a chance to get reacquainted with her roots and give the people of Inuvik an album that is for them. - NNSL file photo

Major territorial festivals were packed with music lovers and musicians from all over the country, proving that the NWT is a haven for artists within Canada.

Taking a look back at this past year's achievements, it's easy to see that if 2012 is anything like 2011, it will be packed with many events for entertainment lovers.

A page-turning year

The NorthWords Writers Festival, held in May, covered all major centres in the NWT with stops in Yellowknife, Hay River and Fort Smith.

The literary roadshow is a favourite among writers in the territory, encouraging those who love the written word to take part in a series of workshops led by Northern and southern authors.

Fort Smith author Helena Katz loaned her skills to the roadshow.

"For me participating in the roadshow is a way of giving something back," Katz said.

Northwords has also announced plans for a NWT-wide anthology to be published this year. Submissions were taken from authors of all genres for stories in and about the territory in November.

Comic to educate

In April, the NWT Department of Health and Social Services released a comic book aimed at educating youths about sexual health, with heavyweight artists backing it.

Kiss Me Deadly was written by Fort Smith author Richard Van Camp and illustrated by Haida artist Christopher Auchter.

"A comic book is perfect for exploring social issues because the comic book is like holding a movie in your hands," stated Van Camp in an e-mail.

"It's also not a pamphlet with facts and figures. It's a story first with an issue second."

Short story wins

Entering her first writing competition turned out to be a rewarding experience for Fort Resolution's Katie Powell.

Powell's short story about Bison and their wrongful stereotype earned her a first place finish in Polar Expressions Publishing's short story contest.

"The story came to me and I wrote it out in handwriting and a friend of mine said, 'They're never going to read that because it's not electronic,' but obviously they did," said Powell. "I was being old-fashioned."

The winners of the contest were announced on Nov. 15.

New book released

Fort Smith author Richard Van Camp released his latest children's book, Nighty-Night: A Bedtime Song for Babies, in Yellowknife on June 15.

The 16-page book is a follow up effort from the best-selling Welcome Song for Baby: A Lullaby for Newborns.

"The best part about being a children's book author are stories you're welcomed into by parents who share with you the miracle of having children and the joy that comes with it," said Van Camp.

"They say children make everything fun again."

Feature film announced

Van Camp was also fortunate enough to see his dream become a reality.

The author's first novel, The Lesser Blessed, based in "Fort Simmer," a fictionalized version of his hometown of Fort Smith, will be adapted into a feature film.

After years of fundraising it was announced in late October the film will not be made in the territory, but Sudbury, Ont., instead.

One Fort Smith youth, Joel Evans, 16, will play the lead role in the film, starring alongside aboriginal actors Benjamin Bratt (Miss Congeniality) and Twilight series actor Kiowa Gordon.

Filming played a large part in the framework of the arts and entertainment world this year, with successful first films and long awaited recognition from the NWT Film Commission.

Mining history in movie

A documentary aptly named Welcome to Pine Point showcased the town's mining history and its inevitable fate.

The directing duo of Michael Simons and Paul Shoebridge looked back on the lives of people who were raised in the small mining town between 1964 and 1987.

"Because their town was removed, I think people hung onto their artifacts and their badges and their photographs," said Simons. "Their proof is what they had left, so it was actually quite easy for us to get material for the project. "

The film won two Webby awards last May, which are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences.

The film can be seen online through the National Film Board of Canada's website.

Showcasing the North

Hay River filmmaker, Kelvin Redvers was hard at work last year, profiling the North for British Columbian audiences of the CTV TV show, First Story.

The footage featured a bit on homelessness in Yellowknife as well as a profile on Shawn Buckley, a commercial fisherman who started up an eco-tourism business in Hay River.

"I was born and raised in the North myself and even though I've been spending sometime down south, the North has always been a part of me," said Redvers. "It's a place in Canada that not a lot of southerners really understand or have much exposure to."

Redver's next film has the potential to be shot in the Northwest Territories.

The NWT Film Commission has a fresh mandate and new funds are being allotted from the departments of Industry, Tourism and Investment and Education, Culture and Employment specifically for filming projects.

As well, the formation of a NWT Professional Media Association is to act as a liaison between the government and industry.

The film commission has changed its website and is promoting the NWT as a desirable shooting location for southern productions.

New dance studio opens

Fort Smith residents can work on their moves at a new dance studio.

Malorie Rehm and Colin Carew began offering classes at Simple Steps, June 18.

"We decided that it seems like there is a niche here that we can fill, so it's kind of developed that way, step by step," Rehm said.

With the skills of both dancers, the studio offers classes ranging from belly dancing to jazz and tango.

Artist surprised

Behchoko artist Robbie Craig is this year's winner of the Northwest Territories NorthwesTel 2011-12 Directory Cover Art Contest. The artist admits he was surprised by his win, and only aspired to be a finalist in the prestigious competition.

"To be honest, I am so humbled and I fell so honoured but at the same time I fell a little bit overwhelmed because it's come so fast," Craig said.

Craig's abstract impressionist rendition of a Northern forest scene, titled The Untouched, will be featured on the front page of this year's phone book.

Honouring a legend

Kole Crook's legacy is carrying on through the Kole Crook Fiddle Society and two filmmakers are putting together a visual collection of his life in a documentary on the Hay River man's life.

The fiddle-master inspired many in his hometown and, on the 10th anniversary of his tragic death, the community rallied together to honour him.

"We're trying to rebuild his life story, trying to get a sense of where he was and what he did and because he's not here anymore we need to rely on his friends, relatives and acquaintances to tell us those stories," said Bob Ellison, co-producer and co-director of the project.

Country lives in Inuvik

Leanne Goose's third studio album, Got You Covered, was nominated in April for a Native American Indigenous Image Award in the category for Outstanding Country Album.

"I'm pretty proud, it was unexpected," Goose said. "You see the advertising come out for award shows and you don't really expect if you submit you'll be nominated. There is so much great talent out there and to be selected as one of the people to be nominated, I'm quite happy and very proud."

Goose got her start as a musician by playing countless community events, including the Muskrat Jamboree.

Later in the year, Goose received two more nominations - for Best Female Artist and Best Country Album - at the Native American Music Awards.

Show promotes artists

In an effort to promote Northern artists, the From Tuk to You: Northwest Territories Art Show and Exhibition was held in Winnipeg in June.

Dene artist Archie Beaulieu, Chipewyan painter John Rombough and well-known Inuvialuit carver Ryan Pokiak Taylor from Tuktoyaktuk submitted their works of art for the exhibition.

"It's all exposure, more exposure for the NWT," Taylor said. "In the NWT there's wicked artists - everywhere else is already known and the NWT isn't really."

Due to the success of the exhibition, organizers from The Mackenzie Art Company held a show in Yellowknife from June until the end of July.

Drummers in Kamloops

The Ulukhaktok Western Drummers represented the NWT at the Western Canada Summer Games and showed off their culture to spectators in Kamloops, B.C., in August.

The group performed three times during NWT Day and received positive reaction from all audiences.

"It was deadly," said Justin Memogana, a member of the group. "The closing ceremonies were really nice, the crowd got so loud."

Elder wins award

Inuvik resident, Abel Tingmiak, 66, was recognized for his efforts to promote, teach and revitalize Inuvialuit traditions.

Tingmiak was one of four recipients of the Minister's Cultural Circle Award in August. Tingmiak won in the elder category, which recognizes recipients for their contributions and hands-on participation in the areas of art, culture, heritage and language.

"It feels really good. I didn't expect it when they phoned me," Tingmiak said about hearing he'd won the award. "(The students) really want to learn. Every time they see me on the street they say 'What time is the next drum dancing?' "

Music festival prevails

Despite a $25,000 cut in funding from the year previous, the Midway Lake Music Festival took over Fort McPherson in July, welcoming visitors from all over North America.

The 26th instalment of the festival welcomed the Beaufort Sea Boys, the Shorty Lake Boys, Yellowknife North Country Band and the Fort Good Hope Drummers.

Festival a success

The Great Northern Arts Festival in Inuvik held in July drew 72 artists and 6,000 visitors, organizers said.

The 23rd annual arts festival allowed artists and art lovers to connect, share inspiration and learn new skills.

Those that participated in the festivities were treated to a series of 65 available workshops, up from 35 during the previous year.

Gold-medal sculptor

Fort Simpson artist Randy Sibbeston was awarded first place in the national division of the snow sculpting competition at the Quebec City Winter Carnival.

A lack of sleep, a late start and a last-minute design change were some of the challenges Sibbeston and his team fought against before being crowned the winner.

The NWT artist also had the chance to make another one of his dreams come true - meeting Bonhomme, while marching in the carnival's parade.

"I was blurry, my eyes were going in different directions, it was crazy," said Sibbeston.

"So when I saw him I was star struck."

Sibbeston's win allows him and his team to be welcomed back to this year's carnival festivities.