NEWS photo Mike Waketield

CAPILANO. COLLEGE instructor and Co-op Radio broadcaster Peter Thompson welcomes students to an Introduction To Audio class on the Burrard Band Indian Reserve. Eighteen students from throughout B.C.

are participating in the new program.

45 - Sunday, November 22, 1987 - North Shore News

“Cruise . into” . winter PAGE 51.

IT’S THE first of its kind for the country and organizers are labelling it as a critical first step forward, giving a native people a new collective voice for cultural expression.

The Media Training for Native People study program, which of- ficially began Nov. 2 on the Bur- rard reserve, has attracted 18 native students from throughout B.C.

The students will spend the next 10 months learning both theory and hands-on skills in everything from video and audio to slide/tape production and communications,

The program is funded by a $129,000 federal government grant to the Chief Dan George Memorial Foundation Society and is being run by the Capilano College Media Resources Department.

‘We believe that this program is unique to’ Canada,’’ said Len George, son of Chief Dan George and director of the memorial foundation. ‘‘The Hollywood im- age of Indian people has had a devastating impact on them. We are now taking the responsibility to tell” our story. from our own perspective.’

“George has spent three years working and planning to see the program come to fruition.

“V’ve been working on the con- cept since 1984, when the Chief Dan George Memorial Foundation Society was set up. The ultimate goal cf the foundation is to give grants and bursaries to natives in

_all fields,"’ he said.

George sees the program as a natural first step to developing a media program. ‘‘Those were the doors my father opened first,’’ he said.

The program has attracted peo- ple/from various B.C. bands who have been working with audio-

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visual equipment to preserve and develop band language and cultur- al heritage.

Said George: ‘‘None of these people have really had any formal training. They've learned through a hands-on approach. Our objec- tive is to become professional peo- ple.”

A parallel development to the program has been the recent for- mation of the B.C. Native Film and Video Association. George sees the two as important vehicles for native expression and par- ticipation in the fast-growing B.C. film industry.

“Now that we have that, we want to grow with the industry. Our main purpose is to step natu- rally from the oral tradition to film and video. We've always had dif- ficulty handling documenting in the written form. Video and film bring the people and history alive for us,*' said George.

According to George, the pro- gram is off to a good start. He’d like to see it continue as a regular offering once the pilot program has run its course. ‘‘The reaction from the community level has been great. ‘Everybody is excited. It’s really opened up our people’s eyes

as to what can be done in the media,” he said.

Said Anne Morely, program coordinator: ‘‘It’s funded on a one-shot basis. The program is solely funded by the federal gov- ernment and is approved by the Ministry of Education.”

The foundation ‘came to the col- lege with the idea in May. Funding for the program came through from Victoria in September.

Morely teaches the production applications side of the. prograrn. “We're looking at the ethnic aspect of productions, critiquing other productions from a view of cultural perspectives. People like Sandy Wilson are very supportive of the program and will be doing a workshop,” she said.

Some of the students are spon- sored by their bands and have band jobs lined up on completion of the program. Participants in- clude representation from the Ckanagan; Alert Bay, Fort St. James and the Fraser Vailey.

- Without advertising for, stu- dents, the foundation received ap- plications from people in Alberta, Saskatchewan and the United States.

“The program is an important first. step. The students are all highly motivated and very bright, ” Morley said.

Currently being taught in the foundation office on the Burrard reserve until Christmas, ‘Morely said the program will likely move onto the Capilano College campus in the new year.

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