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Mikw Chiyâm arts program

celebrates its second year
by Dan Isaac
Photos by Catherine Orr,
or provided by Mikw Chiyâm
Active
in the Arts
10 the Nation March 17, 2017 www.nationnews.ca the Nation 11
 M
any of the students in classes for five-week resi- one student go from attend- ed at the end of every art- it’s getting students to think
the Mikw Chiyâm pro- dencies where they work ing school 20% of the time ist-in-residence’s stay. about the future.
gram didn’t want to with a permanent teacher and failing to the exact oppo- “Through the art shows “I can see in this second
ᐃᔨᔨᐤ CAVAC ᐋ ᐱᒥᐱᔨ ᑖᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ ᑳ ᐃᓂ Ž spend a second more than they to mentor students in their site: attending school 80% year, students are already
ᑑᑎ ᐋᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ ᐊ ᐋᓂᒌ ᐋ ᐅ ᒋ ᐄᒋ ᐋᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ people are seeing how
had to at school. But because of artistic medium. of the time and passing.” thinking about next year.
exceptionally gifted these
the opportunity to work in part- “Sometimes the students Whether it’s painting, Some want to continue
ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᐦᑑᑎᐧᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ ᐋ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᒌ ᐅᔑᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᐤ nership with professional artists, students are,” said Hodges.
ᒑᒌ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᒌ ᐊᐧᐋᓂᒌ ᐋᒌ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᐧᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐅᔮᐧᐋᐦᒡ, were there, nights on end, photography, music or film, with Mikw Chiyâm and also
some of the students have been “People are coming and get-
ᐅᒥᑐᓈᔨᒋᑭᓂᐧᐋᐦᒡ ᑭᔮ ᐅᐱᒫᑎᓯᐧᐃᓂᐧᐋᐦᒡ ᐊᓂᔨᐤ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐋᒌ ᐲᑯᓂᑭᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ From painting, to working with artist Fanny the students in the program enter the entrepreneur-
ᐧᐃᔨᔑᐧᐋᐧᐃᓂᔨᐤ ᑭᔮ ᒫᒃ ᐋ ᐊᔨᒦᔥᑎᐧᒫᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐋ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᒑᒌ voluntarily staying at school to ting excited about the shows
photography, music, Aisha, until 10 pm,” said have the chance to learn ship program,” said Marcela
ᐱᑯᐦᑖᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᐅᐦᒋ ᐋᒌ ᐋᐦᑯᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡx ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᑖᑯᔨᓈ ᓈᔥᑦ ᐋᒌ work on murals until late in the and this year we plan on
ᐧᐋᐱᐦᑎᒥᓐ ᐋ ᐲᑯᓂᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐧᐃᔨᔑᐧᐋᐧᐃᓐ, ᓃᔑᓐᐦ ᐃᔨᔨᐤ CAVAC ᐋ and film the students program coordinator David from pros while making orig- Henriquez, the Mikw
ᐅᐦᒋ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᔥᑎᐧᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐃᔨᔨᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐃᔨᔨᐤ ᐊᔅᒌᐦᒡx evening. Hodges. “We’re giving the inal pieces of art. The works having a big end-of-year art Chiyâm teacher at Voyageur
ᓂᓈᐦᑭᐤ ᐃᔑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᐧᐋᔨᐤᐦ ᐊᓂᒌ CAVAC ᐋᐱᑎᓰᓯᐧᐃ, ᒋᒡ: in the program The Mikw Chiyâm artist res- showcase.”
ᐋ ᑳᒡ ᐋᒌ ᐃᔅᐱᔨᑦ ᐊ ᐋᓐ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐹᒋ ᑭᔮ
students a reason to stay in they complete are displayed Memorial. “It’s amazing to
have the chance idency program is in its second In addition to the art
ᒥᑐᓈᔨ ᒋᑭᓐ ᐄᒋ ᐄᑯᓯ ᐃᓐ ᐋ ᓂᑎᐧᐃᒋᔅᒑᔨᒫᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ school and take ownership to their peers and commu- see them learn the skills in
ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᓂᑎᐧᐋᔑᐦᑎᐦᒡ ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᐧᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ to learn from pros year at Voyageur Memorial High
of their education. We had nity at an exhibit mount- and improved attendance, this program and then want
ᐋ ᒋᔅᒑᔨ ᑎᒥ ᐄ ᐋᓂ ᐃᒡ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᐃᔮᒡ ᑭᔅᒋ ᐆ ᐃᓐ ᑳ ᐃᓇᑑ ᑖᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ School in Mistissini and has been
ᑭᔮ ᑖᓐ ᒑᒌ ᐃᔑ ᐋ ᐄᒋ ᐋᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ ᐋᐧᐃᒄ ᑭᔮ ᐅᔥᑭᒡ ᐋ ᐊᑎ ᐱᒥᐱᔨᒡ while making expanded to schools in Chisasibi
ᐋ ᑎᐹᔅᑯᓂᒑᓂᐧᐃᒡ original pieces and Waskaganish. The program
ᓂᓈ ᑭᐤ ᐄᒋ ᐄ ᐋ ᐃᓐ ᒑᒌ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᐧᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᒑᒌ ᐃᐦᑑᑎᐦᒃ
ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᓂᑎᐧᐋᔨᐦᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᒥᓯᓂᐄᑭᓐᐦ of artwork. brings professional artists to
ᐋ ᐄ ᑎᒧ ᐋᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ ᑳ ᐃᓂᑑ ᑖᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ ᑖᓂᑖ ᒑᒌ ᐄᒋ ᐋᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ
ᐱᑯᓂᒑ ᑯᔨᔅᒃ ᒑᒌ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᑳ ᐧᐃᓂᑑᐧᑖᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐧᐃᔮᑯᓂᒑᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ
ᓂᑐᐦᑯᔨᓐ ᐋᐱᑎᓰᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᐱᒫᑎᓰᐤᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᓯᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᑭᔮᐦ ᐋ ᐃᐦᑎᑯᓂᔨᒡ
ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᒑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᑦ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐋ ᐃᔑ ᓂᒋᔥᑭᐦᒃ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ
ᐧᐋᔥᑖᐱᔨᐦᐄᑯᑦ
ᐋ ᐄᒑ ᐋᑭᓂ ᐃᑦ ᑳ ᐃᓂᑑ ᑖᑭᓂ ᐃᒡ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐋ ᓂᒋᔥᑭᐦᒡ ᓂᑐᐦᑯᔨᓐ
ᐋᐱᑎᓰᐧᐃᓂᔨᐤ ᑭᔮ ᐋ ᐃᐦᑎᑯᓂᔨᒡ ᒑᐧᑳᔨᐤ ᒑ ᐧᐄᒋᐦᐄᑯᑦ ᐊᓂᑖ ᐃᐦᑖᐧᐃᓂᐦᒡ
ᑭᔮ ᒑ ᔒᑐᔥᑯᐧᐋᑭᓂᐧᐃᒡ ᒫᐧᑳᒡ ᐋ ᐱᒥᐱᔨᔨᒡ ᐋ ᑎᐹᔅᑯᓂᒑᓂᐧᐃᔨᒡ ᐃᔥᑯᑎᒃ
ᐋ ᒋᐦᒋᐱᔨᔨᒡ
ᓂᒧᔨ ᑎᐱ ᐄᒑᓂ ᐃᐤ ᑭᔮ ᒥᓯ ᐋ ᒑ ᑳᓐ ᒋᑭ ᑯᔨᔅᒃ
ᑭᓂ ᐋᔨ ᑖᑭᓂ ᐃᐤ ᑖᓐ ᒑ ᐃᔑ ᐄᒋ ᐄᑯᔨᓐx
ᓅ ᒋᒦ ᒡ CAVAC ᒪᓯᓇ ᐄᒑ ᐃᑲᒥᒄ ᐄᓂᐹᑯ ᒡ CAVAC ᒪᓯᓇ ᐄᒑ ᐃᑲᒥᒄ ᐃᔨᔨᐤ CAVAC ᒪᓯᓇ ᐄᒑ ᐃᑭᒥᒄ
301 Queen Street, 461 Wolverine Road, 31 ᒥᐧᐋᐱᓐ ᒣᔅᑲᓅ ᐄᔅᒣᓐ
ᒥᔅᑎᓯᓃ, QC G0W 1C0 ᒋᓵᓰᐲ, QC J0M 1E0 ᑯᐯᒃ J0M 1W0
ᓇᒧᔨ ᑎᐸᐦᐄᑲᓂᐧᐃᐤ: ᓇᒧᔨ ᑎᐸᐦᐄᑲᓂᐧᐃᐤ: ᓇᒧᔨ ᑎᐸᐦᐄᑲᓂᐧᐃᐤ:
1 (855) 603-6137 1 (855) 603-6136 1 (855) 603-6168

CREE CAVAC SERVICES

(Crime Victims Assistance Centre)
CAVAC or crime victims assistance centre, have been created to help victims overcome
the physical, psychological and social consequences of a crime, and to advocate on their
behalf to help them obtain compensation for the harm suffered. If you are a victim or
witness to a crime, then there are two Cree CAVAC offices that have been established to
serve you in the Cree Nation.
POST-TRAUMA AND PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERVENTION, to assess the needs of
victims of crime
INFORMATION
INFORM ON THE RIGHTS CRIME VICTIMS HAVE AND THE REMEDIES

allyee
AVAILABLE TO THEM, which encompasses the main stages of judicial process
TECHNICAL SERVICES, to assist crime victims in filling out required forms
REFERRING VICTIMS TO SPECIALIZED SERVICES, such as appropriate legal,
r e
’s os
“It zing t skills
medical, social and community resources capable of assisting victims as they attempt to
deal with problems they face
ACCOMPANYING CRIME VICTIMS, through their dealings with medical and commu-
a e
am learn thram andn
nity resources, and providing sustained support throughout je judicial process as the
case proceeds
g r
them the pro nt to tueer”
Our front-line services are free of charge
and strictly confidential with you.
in en wa a car teacher
th into w Chiyâm
Cree Southern CAVAC Cree Northern CAVAC Cree Central CAVAC
301 Queen Street, 461 Wolverine Road, 31 Mewaben Meskino,
Mistissini, QC G0W 1C0 Chisasibi, QC J0M 1E0 Eastmain, QC J0M 1W0

themenriquez, Mi
Toll Free: 1 (855) 603-6137 Toll Free: 1 (855) 603-6136 Toll Free: 1 (855) 603-6168
k

www.creejustice.ca
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One of the mural projects created by students ela
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from Wiinibekuu School in Waskaganish

12 the Nation March 17, 2017 www.nationnews.ca

 Left - Screen prints and mixed media projects created by
students from Wiinibekuu and Voyageur Memorial schools
as part of the Mikw Chiyâm Arts Program

to turn them into a career. I can’t wait
to see where they take it.”
There are other ways in which
the program has enriched the educa-
tion experience of students. “When
I started Mikw Chiyâm, I was acting
out by not really applying myself to
my school work,” said Jarrett, a stu-
dent enrolled in the program. “The
program really motivated me to do
better. I started asking my teachers
for help when I needed it and became
14 the Nation March 17, 2017 www.nationnews.ca
one of the better students in my
class.”
Every program has to learn from
its participants, and Mikw Chiyâm
takes that statement to heart. “The
program needs my input as much as
I’ve needed it,” said Jarrett in refer-
ence to the program’s commitment
to student-driven programming and
improvement. “It’s the greatest pro-
gram I’ve participated in.”
Another student, Tre Turner,
echoed that sentiment. “We now
have a couch in the classroom
because of the students’ demands,”
said Turner. “Last year some students
left the program because it wasn’t
what they thought it would be. This
year it’s more lenient, the program
adapted to what the students were
saying. It’s very inclusive.”
Turner is one of the students who
discovered talents he didn’t know he
 had. “The highlight of my life is the
40-minute short film I made for the
class last year,” said Turner. “Without
all these opportunities afforded to us
by the program, I definitely wouldn’t
have considered film as a possible
career.”
And Mikw Chiyâm has not only
opened up the eyes of the students
but also those of their teacher. “I
GOOSE CALL taught for seven years in Montreal
at a high-achieving school where the
CONTEST 2017 kids were already motivated; we
didn’t really have to push them,” said
Henriquez. “But through this program
I’ve realized that, no matter where
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David Hodges speaks at N’we Jinan Festival

16 the Nation March 17, 2017 www.nationnews.ca www.nationnews.ca March 17, 2017 the Nation 17