November 24, 2004

By EARSON GIBSON
» COPY EDITOR

November 16th is Louis Riel day
not to celebrate his birthday, but to
mark his execution for treason. Odd-
ly enough thiswas after he brought
Manitoba into the Canadian federa-
tion, and saved it from anriexation.

In the mid 1800s the both the US
was really high on what they called
manifest destiny, or the God given
right to own all of North America.
Canadians had a similar policy i
the name of the queen.

Both governments came snooping
around the Red River Valley south of
Lake Winnipeg, much to the concern
of the Métis.people living there who
wanted nothing to do with either
government. To make sure they got
the message, a 30 man militia took
possession of the largest Hudson’s
Bay fort in the area without killing
anyone and set up a provisional
government to protect the rights of
the Métis.

Riel wasn’t-a military man but an
extreme pacifist - he hated killing so
much that he would carry a cross
into battle instead of a weapon. He
was a political and religious leader,
leaving the military work up to gen-
eral Gabriel Dumont. It soon became
apparent to the Canadian govern-
ment that nobody could not take the
Red River Valley by force,and if Riel
hadn't stopped the fighting it could
still be going on today.

Riel sent an emissary to Sir John A.
MacDonald to make Manitoba into.a

Canadian Province and it became so,
then through a series of unfortunate
incidents too long to recount here,
Riel found himself on the wrong.end
of a rope and, was hung as a traitor.
Only-in hindsight is it clear that Riet
saved Manitoba and Saskatchewan
from becoming American states) and
perhaps the rest of Western Canada.

UNBC celebrated Louis Riel day
with a special performance by two
time Juno nominee Marcel
Gagnon, with backup by Harold
Morin on guitar and fiddle.
Gagnon is very well known in the
Canadian music scene, so beloved
that The Bare Naked Ladies made
him an honourary member of their
band.

His twelve-string guitar music is
very melodic and harmonious, and
his lyrics deal with powerful issues

pertaining to the history of the .

Métis and Native peoples. The
album Crazy Maker is about Louis
Riel, Crazy Horse, Big Bear and
Leonard Peltier, and is dedicated
to the survivors of residential
schools. The cover art features a
mask called Bheni Hoolo (bene-
hoo-low) literally translated as
‘Crazy Maker’, a mythological fig-
ure that Gagnon describes as “the
inner voice that tells you to do the
wrong thing.” He says “All my life
[Bheni Hoolo] told me ‘you’re
never going to succeed. You’re a
failure and you're going to die a
failure ...You'll never keep a wife

because you don’t know how. You ~

should just go blow your head
off.’”

Hoolo wrong, as his success in the
Canadian music industry has
shown. His music constantly
grows and matures from album to
album, and recently he has incor-
porated computer technology into
the process - a development that
may well win him the next Juno
award. —

Despite the somber issues in his
lyrics, Gagnon and Morin’s perfor-
mance is not all ire and woe. Half

_way through the night the two

musicians struck up such a lively
fiddle tune that UNBC’s own
David Usher rose up out of his seat
and did a carefree jig that delight-
ed the audience.

The range of Gagnon’s music
ability encompasses ballads, coun-
try, rock, jazz and other yet-to-be-
defined styles. He is also an inspi-
rational speaker and accomplished
craftsman who makes his own

Page 11

Canadian Juno Hopeful Plays at UNBC

PHOTO By EARSON GIBSON
Canadian Singer Song-writer, two time Juno nominee, Marcel Gagnon, serenaded students attending Louis
Riel day. The event was held at UNBC on November 16th,

drums and masks. For the special
occasion at UNBC he brought a
mask called “The Spirit c. Louis
Riel” that is quite a powerful piece
of art to behold. You can view
some of his art and listen to his
newest songs at
http:/ /www.marcelgagnon.com,
so those of you who: were unable
to hear him. perform should check
it out! :

Gagnon has since proved Bheni

Jazz and Poetry Alive in Prince George

By DANA SCHWEHR

GRAPHICS EDITOR ,
Some people deplore the lack of

entertaining things to occupy one-

self with while in Prince George.

This is slowly changing, thanks to ©

groups like the Blue Star Cafe.
These dedicated individuals are
working hard to bring interesting
jazz and blues shows to entertain
the Prince George public. Their lat-

PHOTO By ERIC CHLEBEK
Sean Smith plays the saxophone at the Blue Star Cafe.

est effort ‘Jazz and the Spoken
Word’ was a smashing success in

the quest to alleviate boredom

with good music.

The show featured the sound of
Viny].Groove, a local jazz ensem-
ble, and the poetry of Michael
Armstrong who related his work
in time to the music being played.
The combination of music and
poetry entranced the audience for

the duration of the performance.
The music was excellently played,
with one of the highlights being
Sean Smith's incredible saxophone
performance. However, one can-
not argue that the star of the
evening was Michael Armstrong
and his powerful performance. His
poetry is full of strong imagery
and beautiful similes, and was also
amazingly funny.

His topics ranged from a bus
ride in Guatemala to memories of
playing baseball as a child. When
all this cool stuff is packaged and
presented in the self-proclaimed
“sexy voice” that Michael
Armstrong possesses, it is an event
that must be witnessed to be
believed. Fortunately for the peo-
ple who missed the show, Mr.
Armstrong likes to perform in
Prince George, so it is likely that he
will return to wow his doting fans.

Blue Star Cafe is also going to
continue their good work of bring-
ing different forms of culture to
Prince George. Their next show is
tentatively scheduled for
December 5, 2004, with other
shows slated for February, March,
and April. Keep your eyes peeled
for these, and make sure you get
your tickets early when you do
hear about them, since shows this
good have a tendency to sell out
early.

Real Canadian Rock Band is Coming

By JONAS GAGNON
OPINION EDITOR

One of the most quintessential
Canadian bands is coming to
Prince George. Who you may ask?
54-40! This unique group is one of
the only true rock bands to play at
the Multiplex for a while. They are
touring for their tenth studio
album, Goodbye Flatland, and
Prince George will be their last
stop on the tour. I had the chance
to talk to their bassist Brad Merrit.

The Band has been making
albums for eighteen years now
and Merrit says they “can now
make the most of [their recording
time]” because “there are not a lot
of squabbles” and they get along
really well now. Though the
recording process is smoother
than it was in the beginning they
“still have to strive for growth.”

Their longevity is epic in this
era of one hit wonders and dispos-
able bands. Merrit ascribes the
longevity to the friendship they

Unde Pea,

"The Diarist of Circumstances"

Something co offend everyone

Tuesdays | CF U Q

at noom on:

ee

have within the band. He also says
that they are playing for the right
reasons, not for money or fame
but because they “need to create
and play.” They are concerned
with the quality of their music,
and the evolution of the band.
Because they have the right inten-
tions and the ability to get along,
they just keep putting out albums.

54-40 is one of the few Canadian
bands that does not need the pop
recognition of the United States to
be successful. Merrit says that
they had prioritized their families,
their music, and their home -
Canada. This left no time for tour-
ing in the United States, so they
decided they were fine without
recognition by the U.S.

Merrit says that the band loves
Prince George and is glad to be
back here playing for us, so come
out and support some real
Canadians! Grab some tickets, it’s
the only real rock show you'll see
in Prince George for a long time.

8B 7m Prince george