Welcome
The signature image for the 10th Anniversary New Sun Conference is based on a design for a painted drum that Mike Dangeli, one of this year鈥檚 presenters, was commissioned to make for Buffy Saint-Marie in honour of her nomination for the 2009 Juno Awards.
Mike says, 鈥淭he drum was called Shining Through. It embodies the Nisga鈥檃 concept of n艂oomsk ts’眉眉 siigyemk, which refers to the sacred strength of the sunbeam. It is one of our most important Nisga鈥檃 beliefs that we need to walk in the light that the creator provides. It nurtures our soul and strengthens our ability to manage our lives and treat our fellow human beings and the world around us in a positive way. Walking the path outside the light, a path of darkness and negativity, is sometimes easier, but in the end it does more damage to us. Some of the most powerful songs we sing are those that remind us that we need to go back to that sacred space, to 鈥榳alk in the light,鈥� and maintain a positive and healing relationship to ourselves, our world, our universe.鈥�
In light of these teachings, Shining Through seems an especially fitting image to聽mark this special anniversary in that it embodies many of the goals of the New聽Sun Conference itself: to provide a sacred space for celebration and reflection,聽to nurture souls (and hearts), to inspire positive actions, and foster healing聽relationships through the communal sharing of stories and songs. Judging聽from the copious feedback received over the past decade it would appear that聽these goals have been met many times over in ways both playful and profound.聽Thematically, Shining Through is a fertile verbal and visual metaphor that聽stirs the imagination. We can envision numerous streams of light, shafts of聽creative cultural brilliance, piercing the dark clouds of apathy and ignorance to聽affirm a vital and persistent indigenous presence. And in the process, bringing聽enlightenment, enrichment, and renewal. In this renewal, in the dawning of聽each new day鈥攅specially on this new day鈥攚hat is clearly shining through are聽the radiant beams of a New Sun.
Today, the life-giving energy of this light is made manifest in the layered聽symbology of Nadia Myre鈥檚 film and beaded photo explorations; in the arctic聽imaginings of Mosha Folger鈥檚 verse and tricky hip hop songscapes; in the聽majestic sweep and curve of Douglas Cardinal鈥檚 distinctive built environments;聽in the triumph of the healing spirit in Armand Garnet Ruffo鈥檚 filmic odyssey,聽A Windigo Tale; and in the cultural exuberance that animates the life and聽artistry of Mike Dangeli and Mique鈥檒 Askren and the Git Hayetsk Dancers.聽It promises to be a memorable day. Enjoy.
All my relations,
Allan J. Ryan
A presentation of the New Sun Chair in Aboriginal Art and Culture
with the support of the Dean of Arts and Social Sciences and the New Sun Fund
administered by the Community Foundation of Ottawa, plus the generosity of private donors