OVER THE EOGE January SO, 2008 TYLER CLARKE, PropucTion COORDINATOR B.C. author Calvin Helin January 21 at UNBC’s Canfor Theater, presenting material covered in his book Dances With Dependency. Author Speaks on Aboriginal Issues TYLER CLARKE Propuction GooRDINATOR “We have to make a difference to the path Aborig- inal people are on... We live in one of the wealthi- est countries in the world and we’re living in third and fourth world conditions,” B.C. Tsimshian First Nations author Calvin Helin said Monday night at UNBC’s Canfor Theater. Helin hosted an hour-long presentation surround- ing subject material covered in his 2006 book Dan- ces With Dependency, which he hopes will help wean First Nations away from government dependence and find success through self-reliance. The answer, he reiterated throughout his two-hour presentation, lies within the youth. He said kids who are forced into foster homes are “innocent victims of the system and the status quo... We’re effectively as Aboriginal people not able to look after our own kids... Jails of the nation are ware- housing our people.” “For Canada to be a prosperous and competitive na- tion we have to keep young Aboriginal people in the workforce.” He added that this is not just a First Na- tions need, but a Canadian need. Half a million skilled workers are currently needed in B.C. and Alberta, and properly educated First Nations youth can help fill this gap. For years, he said, he’s heard people say that “it’s them and us... Aboriginal on one side and everyone else on the other.” This is not the case, it’s everyone, and long-term plans are necessary to help break the First Nations dependency cycle, he said. Helin cited several areas in which First Nations people have to improve in order to get there, most of which surrounding issues related to dependency on government. This dependency, he said, is not the fault of First Nations people, but is the result of many decades of work the government has spent placing First Nations in this position for various reasons related to assimila- tion and overtaking Native lands. “I’m not against welfare... But there can be no fu- ture for a society where people are entirely dependent on someone else,” Helin warned, referring to welfare as the welfare trap wherein people enter a cycle, trad- ing bits of their life for welfare crumbs, losing a por- tion of life’s meaning gained through honest work. This welfare trap is the result of what he said is learned helplessness, wherein people begin to believe that they should just “do nothing, it’s not going to make a difference,” following constant failure. “Tt’s important that young Aboriginal people under- stand they’re the most important part of the solution. Helin closed his presentation with a call to action, saying “the only thing you can do anything about is what’s ahead of you... The most important thing, and this includes everyone, is how we move forward to- gether.” His presentation ended with words from his native language, “Wai Wah!,” meaning just do it. The half-hour question period that followed became somewhat heated, as members of the audience ad- dressed various controversial issues Helin brought up in his presentation. The most memorable response came from Esketemc First Nations and UNBC masters student Ivy Chelsea, who accused Helin of wearing the hat of a colonial man. She chose to address Helin personally, standing face to face with him at the front of the theater. “T ask that you come from your heart, on behalf of First Nations women... And let Canada know that we are not broken,” she said, addressing the lack of refer- ence to women in Helin’s presentation. UNBC First Nations Director Paul Michel expressed his offence at having been subjected to an hour of sta- tistics surrounding First Nations people, as well as the simplistic “just do it” attitude. Another took offence to Helin’s anti-Chief and councilor stance. So far, Helin has sold 11,000 copies of Dances with Dependency, which is currently being sold at Books and Company. Books and Company was one of the event’s many local sponsors. News Karma Du a e § Karma _ Andrew Bailey Takes on UNBC Composting Anprew Baicey Sports anp Ciuas Eniror I know. nothing of science. Soil density and erosion mean abso- lutely nothing to me, and before I researched for this article | thought that living organic matter was what rwas in the Tupperware container in do know something about the words better, beneficial, and restoration, and this is why I know that compost- ing is ridiculously important. In fact the only thing more ridiculous than — the importance of composting is the fact that PGPIRG the coolest club i in composting program. Realizing that not everyone reading this article is a scientist, and realizing my own lim- itations, I’ll try to put this as simply as possible. Compost collects nitro- genous waste (mostly food waste), — which mixed with carbon materials (leaves, sawdust, or paper) breaks down into a high nutrient substance which benefits the soil in approxi- mately one million different ways, but you’re busy so Vil only explain a few: Like poe Bailey, soil excels because of a strong physical struc- ture. Composting is a way to ensure a good physical structure of the soil causing greater drought resistance as well as more efficient water util- ization. If you buy bottled water you don’t drink half and then pour the ful and you wouldn’t be as hydrated let our soil waste water that it could be using? Composting - improves : some- capacity”. I assume this is a Greek word but I’m of course basing that on absolutely nothing. Basically, it means that the soil is able to retain and whatever else grows in soil to utilize the nutrients in the soil to the greatest advantage. It’s like an all you can eat buffet, the food never goes away so you can eat as much as you want. Don’t you want plants and soil dwellers to experience the joy and gloriousness of an all you can eat buffet? Like a Sizzler for organic matter, righteous. The nutrients which composting the back of my fridge. However, I other half out, that would be waste-- as you could be, so why would we — thing called the “cation exchange — _ help out in order to expand the com- nutrients longer. This allows plants — _ posting buckets placed all around the adds to the soil contain relatively stable sources of organic matter. See now you probably read that sentence and didn't immediately think, awe- some, but it is awesome because it means that the nutrients are provid- ed in a type of slow release format. Now don’t get me wrong, a beer bong is one hell of a way to pe afternoon but by the evening you’re pretty sick and out of beer, therefore _ itis relatively more relaxing to enjoy _that beer over a few hours by drink- ing it at a reasonable pace. This is exactly why soil loves nutrients to be provided in a slow and leisurely __ form. We don’t want soil puking and | falling all over the place; it’s embar- Tassing. -Pythium, fusarium, — and nema- todes, yeah pretty heavy stuff. Like ‘me, you've probably never come down with any of these deadly dis- _ eases but saying these words in a bar _ full of plants would be like head- ing to Steamers Pub and talking about chlamydia, gonorthea or her- pes. Composting suppresses the big named diseases mentioned above! just like a rubber prevents the more commonly known STD’s mentioned above. We teach our children to wear condoms to protect themselves from diseases, shouldn't we protect our soil as well? Composting is just like a condom, it’s a magical device that allows soil to enjoy itself without needing a prescription for penicillin So composting is important, why not help out? The PGPIRG office is located right by the bookstore, it’s super easy to find and the people there are literally more approach- able than Santa Clause. How do you think I got most of the facts for this article, | went there and asked? Everyone there is incredibly friendly and they need more volunteers to posting program here at UNBC, If you don’t have any time to help, or if you vote conservative than you can at least take advantage of the com- school: at every food service area, the women’s center, the First Na-' tions office, and all around the halls, by throwing your organic waste in. Seriously people, it is composting, it is important. Andrew Bailey cares about the environment, and so can you. Fin.