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News Release |
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For Immediate Release
February 10, 2010
Freda Diesing students showcased at the Olympics!
Sal Ferreras, organizer of music and dance for the Aboriginal Pavilion — a joint project of the Four Host First Nations and the Vancouver Olympic Committee — visited the Northwest last year during the Challenging the Paradigm Summer Gathering; it was during this visit that he met Robin McLean and saw him perform.
“Robin will dance in the much anticipated kickoff to the Games, the opening ceremonies this Friday, February 12th at 5 p.m. at BC Place Stadium”, stated Stephanie Forsyth, President of Northwest Community College. “A 2009 Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art (FDS) graduate, Robin McLean will dance with a group of 300 Aboriginals selected from across Canada. This is a tremendous opportunity for Robin, who is not only a dancer, but a carver.”
McLean, who will wear local regalia, applied for the opportunity open to Aboriginals between the ages of 19 and 29. His father, Norm McLean, says his son is not allowed to divulge anything about the opening ceremony, but he says Robin is very excited about it. Robin is one of 11 young people — five from the Nass Valley and six from Tsimshian territory — from the region invited to be a part of this large dancing, drumming and singing troupe.
Norm McLean, who is in the second year of the First Nations Fine Arts Diploma program, is also participating at the Olympics. He and Rod Sampare and Kerry Hyzims, two Hazelton-based NWCC students enrolled in the Essential Skills for Work program, will perform with the Gidhmes Dancers from Gitsegukla. The 130-member dancing group will perform a welcome song during the first round of medal ceremonies Feb. 14 at 6:25 p.m. — also at BC Place Stadium.
“This is a chance of a lifetime,” said Norm McLean, who as Gidhmes dance guardian cues the group much like a classical music conductor except he also dances. “It’ll expose the dancers to other venues and it’ll give exposure to the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art.”
Norm McLean will proudly wear one of two masks carved by his son Robin for the dance group.
Dean Heron, a 2007 FDS graduate, is one of only 90 established and up-and-coming Aboriginal artists from across Canada, chosen to have their art work displayed at the Olympics. Heron will have the unique privilege of showcasing his artwork for one week at the Olympics Artisan’s Market put on by the Four Host First Nations. The market will be housed at Vancouver Community College’s downtown campus in affiliation with the Aboriginal Pavilion. Heron says he’ll have artwork, carvings, prints, paintings and pendants for sale and will use the opportunity to network.
“Dean’s print work is excellent”, states Forsyth, “and to be featured alongside well renowned artists such as Susan Point and others, is a huge acknowledgement of the calibre of his work.”
Heron was also commissioned to make a giant multi-canvass piece that is on display at the lodge at Cypress Mountain, the venue for freestyle skiing and snowboarding. This canvass is one of 40 works commissioned by Olympics organizers which will remain as permanent legacies of the Games. The white, black and green-grey design shows a hand, to signal a welcome to visitors and a salmon trout head. Heron completed the piece with help from fellow FDS alumnus Todd Stephens.
“It is incredibly exciting to see our graduates taking part in the Olympics and joining the world stage” said Forsyth. “ Millions of viewers worldwide will be watching our graduates and exposed to their talents; it is a fantastic opportunity and we are very proud of their accomplishments.”
NOTES - NWCC Smithers student Wilma Devries will also be in Vancouver for the Games working as a volunteer. A second-year Social Service Worker Diploma student, Devries isn’t sure what she will be doing in her volunteer role but said she is very excited to participate.
TV screens at Skytrain stations in the Lower Mainland will show rotating video clips of BC people, places and culture throughout the Games. One of these clips shows the pole raising in Kitselas Canyon, the first Freda Diesing School pole project from 2007.
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For more information contact:
Dave O’Leary
Chief Information Officer
Northwest Community College
Phone: 250.638.5402
Toll-Free: 1.877.277.2288
Email: doleary@nwcc.bc.ca