Hupacasath and Tseshaht Honesty to Them," Said Director Shirley People Were Very Excited to Have Adam Cheechoo
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L .s a V LIBRARY AND ARCHIVES CANADA Bibliotheque et Archives Canada III I II II I I III I II III 1111 3 3286 54264663 9 o f o. Na- Shilth -Sa - Canada's Oldest First Nation's Newspaper - Serving Nuu -chah- nulth -aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product Vol. 31 - No. 18 - September 9, 2004 haasitsa "Interesting News" Sales Agreement No. 40047776 I Ahousaht story becomes movie ;. "It's difficult to crouch so low, and with . I . t By David Wiwchar C, 4- 4 1 II the heavy headdress on, it's hard. But I Southern Region Reporter love the Hinkeets Dance," he said. Ahousaht's Hutch Sam has been Victoria - An ancient Ahousaht story is employed throughout the production as coming to life through an all -star cast 4 the cultural advisor, and along with his over the next few weeks. son Thomas, taught Beach how to Johnny Tootall is a movie based on a perform the Hinkeets Dance, make story owned by A -in -chut (Shawn 4.04 Ahousaht gestures, and pronounce , a4.iço----oo- 1e Atleo), modernized for a television certain words. audience by Cree director Shirley r "We created a Hinkeets dance for the . Cheechoo (Path With No Moccasins, vision he has, and it's been great to be a The Rez), and Sto:lo writer Andrew part of this big production," said Hutch, Genaille. who also performs in the movie as a singer and an extra. He also carved all Tootall is a movie Johnny based the masks used in the film. "I'd really on a story owned by A -in -chut like to thank A -in -chut for getting this (Shawn Atleo), modernized for a project going, and suggesting I be a part television audience by Cree of it," he said. director Shirley Cheechoo. Unable to work with the films' cast and crew due to his heavy schedule, Atleo The story tells of an Ahousaht Chief appointed Sam to the position as he is (Johnny Tootall) who fights as a soldier also the speaker for A -in -chut. t= á Atleo caught up with the cast and crew in Afghanistan and while there, has a _ vision of wolves and of his culture. He in Ahousaht over the Labour Day long returns to Ahousaht only to find his weekend, and was very encouraged after people are in conflict with a logging witnessing the effect Adam Beach and company. During his cultural other stars had on community members. Adam Beach poses with Stanley Sam and other young fans in Ahousaht rediscovery, the Chief finds a home and "It was awesome to see them shooting a family, as well as his identity. in Ahousaht," said Atleo. "Ahousaht has "I. am drawn to films that have a certain been very supportive of the project, and Hupacasath and Tseshaht honesty to them," said director Shirley people were very excited to have Adam Cheechoo. "Since my mom told me Beach there. I'm hoping that what the movie Whalerider did for the Maori stories as a young child I always wanted accept offer ... for now. people, this movie might do for to be a storyteller. I want to make films By sector, then came to us after those that tell a story about life itself," she Ahousaht," he said. David Wiwchar discussions were finished. They gave us said. After seeing the award -winning Southern Region Reporter Whalerider, Atleo approached a few film the leftovers," he said. Negotiations drifted well into the first "It's to be a part of, and people he knew, and the work began on Port Alberni - Tseshaht and Hupacasath great week of the four-week run, and as learn from various First Johnny Tootall. negotiators signed a chinook fishery Over the past two years, Atleo has agreement, but neither nation is happy negotiators worked feverishly to Nations," said Adam Beach. "I worked as a script writer and consultant. with it. hammer out an agreement, the price love working with the people As he approached the set in Ahousaht, The two Nations reached a last- minute buyers were paying for chinook was from Ahousaht, and to learn Atleo immediately recognized the scene agreement with Fisheries and Oceans dropping precipitously from an opening about their connection to whales, being shot as one he'd written. Canada (DFO) for 18,000 chinook of $1.65. Tseshaht and Hupacasath the sea, the land ... it's been "We wanted to make sure the story salmon, which they say is nowhere near leaders were also faced with the threat that DFO would reallocate their catch to amazing." would be authentic and substantial," said enough. Atleo, adding he has spent a significant other sectors if a deal wasn't signed amount of time educating writers and quickly, said Sam. Johnny Tootall is played by renowned Tseshaht and Hupacasath cast members about Ahousaht culture. DFO estimates the total Somass ú actor Adam Beach (Windtalkers, Joe negotiators signed a chinook "This movie will really showcase our chinook run to be 84,000 fish. They Dirt, Dance Me Outside, Squanto, fishery agreement, but neither west coast people and culture, and need 39,000 chinook to spawn, Smoke Signals, Mystery Alaska) who is nation is happy with it. The two should make everyone feel good about producing 59 million eggs. They set the a member of the Saulteaux Cree Nation their cultures," he said. "Both writers Nations reached a last- minute Total Allowable Catch (TAC) at 45,000 from Dog Creek in Central Manitoba. and many of the cast members are First agreement with Fisheries and fish. Of that, the sports fishery gets "Being an actor I've been lucky to be Nations. It's a piece of fiction but it will Oceans Canada (DFO) for 18,000 almost 23,000 chinook, First Nations able to see our peoples' lifestyles across still be a positive thing for our people," are allowed 18,000, and the commercial the country," said Beach. "It's great to chinook salmon, which they say is he said. sector receives 6,000 (5,400 for be a part of, and learn from various First nowhere near enough. The movie will be filmed in Ahousaht, gillnetters and 600 for trollers). Of the Nations," he said. "I love working with Jordan River, Saanich, and Victoria over 18,000 chinook allocated to the First the people from Ahousaht, and to learn "First Nations needs are supposed to be 16 weeks. "We wanted to film the whole Nations fishery, 16,000 are for selling to the second only to conservation, but instead about their connection whales, and the remaining 2,000 is for home movie in Ahousaht, but the logistics just we're almost an afterthought to DFO," sea, the land ... it's been amazing." use. didn't allow for it," said producer said Tseshaht Chief Councilor Les Sam. Part of Beach's challenge has been to Hours after the Somass Chinook Danielle Prohom Olson, whose company "They negotiated an allocation with the learn the Hinkeets Dance, which he will Agreement was signed, Hupacasath and recreational sector and the commercial perform numerous times in the film. continued on page 2 continued on page 3 r If undeliverable, please return to: Ha- Shilth -Sa War Council hosts salmon feast Page 3 P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2 (17) First Nations make case for Fisheries Treaty Page 4 COLLECTION NEWSPAPER OF CANADA 1 Stewardship Plan in place for Tsuxiit Page 5 NATIONAL LIBRARY 395 WELLINGTON ST. NEC sponsors ecotourism project Page 6 K1A ON4 OTTAWA, ONTARIO CBT Programs benefit Clayoquot residents . Page 8 NEDC Business News Page 20 ISSN 0715 r ,t Ha- Shilth -Su - September 9, 2004 - Page 3 Page 2 - Ha -Shit th -So - September 9, 2004 Ha- Shilth -Sa newspaper is NCN War Council hosts free published by the Nut- chah -nulth LETTERS and KLECO'S Tribal Council for distribution lo Hashi /r/r-Sa will include Idlers received from its readers. All tellers MUST he salmon barbeque in Vancouver members the twelve NTC- signed by the writer and have the writer's name, address and phone number on the of everyone and acknowledge the work of it. Names can be withheld by request. Anonym., submissions will nor he Submitted by CUT aaeo Jr. ember First Nations as well as the War Council. People lined up until accented. NCN War other interested groups and Council all the food and water was distributed. We reserve the right to edit submitted material for clarity, brevity. Individuals. Information and Between 450 and 500 people were grammar and good taste. We will uh- inite(y a pt publish letters dealing with tribal original work contained in this Vancouver -The Nuu- chah -nulth War or personal diapason or issues that are critical of Nun- chah -ninth Individuals or Council hosted a free salmon barbaque served.Lots newspaper is copyright and may of Nmm.ahah-nulth -aht from groups. on a rainy Saturday afternoon, August Vancouver and Vancouver Island shared not be reproduced without written opinions expressed in letters to the editor are purely those of the All 28th at Oppenheimer Park in in the meal and enjoyed each other's permission from: and will not necessarily coincide with the views or policies of the Nnu- writer Vancouver. company despite the foul weather.. Nuu- chah- nulth'i tribal Council na/tlr Tribal Council or its member First Nations. ¡ chab- The min did not diminish the spirits of Uukwakum (Ahousaht rye¢. Corbett P.O. Box 1383, the volunteers nor did it George) also paid a visit moiler his I discourage the !.