Fall 2004
Sharon and Orenda

What's New...

As many in our community have heard, things are again beginning to happen at the Sâkêwêwak Artists' Collective. The Board of Directors has brought on 2 new full-time employees to assist in the development and direction of the Sâkêwêwak Artists' Collective.

Sharon Pelletier is our new General Manager. Sharon has had a long-standing and successful relationship with Sâkêwêwak, both as an artist and as a part-time employee. Sharon will concentrate her efforts by keeping our collective organized. Also new to our staff is Orenda Yuzicapi. Although not new to the art world, Orenda is new to the Regina art professional community and is looking forward to taking the reins as Program Manager.

Help welcome our new staff to the collective and assist them in making Sâkêwêwak the best collective that it can be.

Celebrating Halloween, Sâkêwêwak Style...

Throughout the month of October, Sâkêwêwak will be gearing up for our Halloween Social. We are asking that members drop by our office and create a spooky piece of art for our social. This way our staff will get to meet our members and our members can see what is happening at the office. On Friday, October 29th, 2004 from 7-10PM, the party begins. (Families are welcomed) Our location is still to be determined, but look for our chilling campaign.

This social will act as a community outreach within our members and within the arts community. This will also be the kick-off to our Fundraising event, which will culminate into a silent art auction and raffle that will take place during our Centennial Exhibition/Members show (May 2005). Any members that are willing to donate a piece should please contact Sâkêwêwak to find out the details. Remember, costumes are important!

2004 Programming Notes...

Storytelling Festival
2004 marked the expansion from previous years' Distinguished Storytellers series, to this years multi-disciplinary, Sâkêwêwak Storytelling Festival. This year saw a much more profound critical focus with the addition of contemporary artists working in more experimental forms, presenting new works, and speaking critically about their work, and artistic practice. This year also saw the successful presentation of traditional and contemporary practices, side by side, in a manner which transcended the limitations of form and which allowed for the genuine artistry and masterfulness of the individual storyteller/artists to be self-evident; regardless of form or 'discipline'. The addition of international guests, Uragsha, provided a cultural exchange, which lifted the Festival to another level. Also, the masterful and playful quality of Elder Annie Keewatin Nenawe's storytelling set the tone for the Traditional speakers. On the opening day of the traditional speakers, after telling numerous stories and reminiscences, she called upon another elder in attendance to tell a story of his own, in the old storytelling tradition of challenging one another. Sâkêwêwak's membership and board of directors believe strongly in providing opportunities for people to enjoy and learn from arts related experiences - in particular, those in our city who are looking for culturally relevant experiences that come from the heart of our community.

Teknomadz
Project is wrapping up with the public presentations of this multi-disciplinary performance event. This projects entailed the recruitment of Aboriginal youth from inner cities and reserves into digital media, dance, performance training workshops and culminated into the making of a video artwork, with the end result being a live multimedia production that will be showcased before the end of the year and broadcast on our website in the new year.

Hood FM
Also in its final stages. The last recordings and narrations are currently underway. This literary and spoken word project that explored alternative economies within inner city Regina is to be broadcast on low-watt radio in the beginning of 2005. We also would like to stream segments on our new website.

2005 Programming Notes...

Urban Renewal Project
In early 2005, Sâkêwêwak will engage 3 First Nations artists, (emerging, mid-career or established), from within the city of Regina by providing production funds and facilities to support the development of new work. The artists will be chosen by a committee from submissions, in response to our upcoming open call for proposals in December 2004. Proposals will require a project description, artist statement and production schedule including requirements. Opportunity for dissemination of the work will be provided through the media arts mini-festival Sâkêwêwak will be hosting to coincide with the Saskatchewan Centennial celebrations.

Storytellers Festival
Also in the Spring of 2005 we will be hosting our annual Storytellers Festival. This year we hope to expand on the festival to include a more culturally diverse presentation. The program will incorporate many exciting elements of the Regina, the Saskatchewan and international regions of story – concentrating on Aboriginal history, story hours, panels, presentations and workshops. Look for reoccuring presentations from our favourites and new members. We promise an unique, exciting and rewarding experience through the enchantment of this ancient and wonderful art.

Web Dissemination Project
As previously eluded to, this project will assist in the updating of our website pending funding approval. Our hopes are to have the Teknomadz DVD and final presentation streamed onto the website for the world to see. We also have plans to stream Hood FM onto our website. This project will assist us in providing a wider audience base within the art community, but also with a worldwide audience. One of our goals is to promote the works of our artists, pursuing all avenues of dissemination. In addition to streaming our projects onto the Sâkêwêwak website, we will be able to update our current site to dissemination of past and current programming, and definitely leaving room for all future events. Our total revamping of our website should take place, early into 2005, with preparations beginning immediately.

Community Announcement Forum

To help enhance the community spirit of the Sâkêwêwak Artists' Collective we have created this area for you, our members, to post up special announcements. You may know someone who is getting married or has just got married, someone celebrating their birthday or even the birth of a newborn, or someone you know graduated or has an upcoming show, maybe there are special events taking place in your area that are important to the community, example: Fundraising for a cultural or art event.

These are just examples on how this area can be used. Please note any commercial advertising will not be posted. Deadlines are 15th of February, May, August and November each year. We hope you enjoy this new area and any feedback should be made in the comments and suggestions forum or you can contact any of the Sâkêwêwak staff.

Upcoming Indivdual Grant Deadlines

1-Nov-04
Celebrating Community Centennial Grant Program
SaskCulture
1-Nov-04
Grants for Media Arts Dissemination:
Media Arts Dissemination Project Grants
Canada Council for the Arts

1-Nov-04
Grants for Professional Musicians (Individuals)
Canada Council for the Arts

15-Nov-04
InterArts: Creation/Production Grants and Dissemination Grants
Canada Council for the Arts

1-Dec-04
Grants to Professional Arts in Visual Arts
(including Photography)
Canada Council for the Arts

10-Dec-04
Artist in Residence
for Research Pilot Program - Residency
Canada Council for the Arts

1-Feb-05
Aboriginal Peoples' Collaborative Exchange
Canada Council for the Arts

1-Mar-05
Celebrating Community
Centennial Grant Program
SaskCulture

1-Mar-05
Aboriginal Peoples Music Program
Canada Council for the Arts

15-Mar-05
Grants to Dance Professionals
Canada Council for the Arts

15-Mar-05
Production Project Grants in Dance
Canada Council for the Arts

15-Mar-05
Co-operative Projects in Writing & Publishing
Canada Council for the Arts

15-Mar-05
Co-operative Projects in Writing & Publishing
Canada Council for the Arts

15-Apr-05
Capacity Building
Canadian Heritage

15-Apr-05
New Festivals Fund
Canada Council for the Arts

15-Apr-05
Multicultural Initiatives Fund
SaskCulture

15-Apr-05
Aboriginal Arts and Culture Leadership Program
SaskCulture

15-Apr-05
Writing and Publishing:
Spoken Word and Storytelling Program
Canada Council for the Arts

30-Apr-05
Arts Presentation Canada
Canadian Heritage

1-May-05
InterArts:
Multidisciplinary Festivals Project Grant
Canada Council for the Arts

1-May-05
Assistance to Media Arts Production Organizations:
Development Project Grants
Canada Council for the Arts

1-Jun-05
Writing and Publishing: Grants to Aboriginal Writers, Storytellers and Publishers
Canada Council for the Arts

30-Jun-05
National Arts Training Contribution Program
Canadian Heritage

For more information on these grants please contact: Sâkêwêwak, Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage or SaskCulture.

Bob Boyer

In our Memories...

We are saddened to announce the passing of one of our distinguished members of Sâkêwêwak, Bob Boyer. August 30, 2004, Bob passed away while dancing at a Pow Wow in Nebraska.

Born near Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, July 20th, 1948. In 1971 he graduated from the University of Regina with a Bachelor of Education degree in Art Education. Bob worked in a variety of media and is probably best know for his "Blanket Statements" in which he used blankets as a painting surface. In his work, Bob combined traditional design patterns of the Northern Plains style with elements inspired by more contemporary painting.

Bob lived in Rouleau, Saskatchewan with his wife Ann and was a Professor of Indian Art at the First Nations University of Canada (formerly the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College) from 1981-2004. Bob was a great friend to many and he will be missed. Friends are invited to sign a book of condolences at www.obituariestoday.com

Meet Our Board of Directors...

We can't introduce you to all of our Directors, but here are the names of our current board. Hopefully this will give you an idea of the diversity of our organization.

Membership Counts...

Sâkêwêwak First Nations Artists' Collective Inc. is a Regina based organization whose mandate is to ensure that First Peoples artists are consistently provided with the space and environment that allows them to develop their self-determined artistic practices through critical exchange with their peers and their audiences. Sâkêwêwak's mandate is accomplished by established artistic objectives that facilitate projects for First Nations artists.

Join Sâkêwêwak. As a member you will support a growing network of artists in your community and gain benefits for yourself. A Sâkêwêwak membership is a great way to become an active part in the local art community. All artists in all media are welcome to join, and we also welcome our business members and their support. Sâkêwêwak members receive:

Annual Membership Dues: To become a member, complete a membership form online or print and mail along with a cheque made out to Sâkêwêwak Artist Collective Inc to:
Sâkêwêwak Artist Collective
2536 11th Ave
Regina, SK S4P 0K5

Logo Contest...

Sâkêwêwak would like to announce a logo contest for our restructured organization. We want to reflect the positive changes that have happened over the past few months, and start fresh. Please submit your ideas to Sâkêwêwak Artist Collective. Designs should be digital, if possible, but definitely suitable for letterhead, posters, t-shirts & website. If possible, please submit a colour version and a grayscale version.

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