Us io me Ce NN ESO

This Week August 1, 1990. Page M5

TOP STORY

Continued from Page 3

bird or bear totem pole. That's all
baloney. We don’t worship the totem
pole, we worship Tayi (the Creator).
Every carving is related to Tayi, is a
symbol,” Louis explains.

The first non-native consumers of na-
tive art weren't told the stories about the
pieces they bought (most masks, for ex-
ample, are part of a family or clan crest
and each has a corresponding story,
dance and song) and, morerecently, even
carvers have been ignorant of the mean-
ing of their work.

With the revival of Indian culture,
however, carvers are consulting elders
about the history of particular imagery
and then passing on the information to
buyers. Native art schools, like one open
in northern B.C’s Hazleton for six to
nine months each year, improve

artisans’ techniques and teach them to
respect artistic tradition. Certified
graduates are recognized as master
craftsmen: their work is priced accord-
ingly.

And while tourists scoop up Indian
curios and T-shirts are decorated with
native imagery, there is increasing will-
ingness to pay for the sophisticated tech-
niques, and the historical connections, of
finer work.

“A powerful chief hid the sun in a box,
so the world was without light. But
Raven was able to steal the sun from the
box and escaped through the smoke hole
in the chiefs house. He flew up into the
sky with the golden sun and the proof of
this, of course, is that the sun still shines
from the heavens.”

That story tells how the sun came to be
but perhaps it will come to symbolize the
rebirth of native culture. Even the
Victoria’s First Peoples Festival is gain-
ing prominence, helping to shine a
brighter light upon aboriginal tradi-
tions.

Organizers expect the festival to grow
—there are plans to add sporting events
and to include more participants from
outside B.C’s 215 bands — and hope
that it will move from its medium to a
high-profile status. South American na-
tives have been invited (Andean
musician Pepe Mendoza will perform at
this festival), dancers, story-tellers, and
craftsmen represent the customs of
various native groups, and younger na-
tives are becoming more involved with
festival organization and performance.

On Aug. 4, when an elder utters a prayer
at the opening ceremonies, as children
have their faces painted to look like war-
riors and guests observe centuries-old
rituals, and on August 6, when the last
festival song is sung or dance is danced,
natives will be moving their traditions a
little closer to the sun.

‘This is our celebration, Cook says.
“But we want everyone to be part of it.”

“We were always very close to every
living thing,” says Tatoosh. “Every tree
and bear once had a human form, and
we respected that and it was part of us.
Our way of life was developed, andit was
a good life, but other people didn’t want
to understand it.”

“Native people have always learned
from the world around them. Now,
everyone can learn from each other.”

You spend 1/3 of your life in bed, so
it’s important to have a mattress that
will enable you to wake up refreshed
every morning! We match the
correct mattress to your needs!

WE STOCK — box spring and matiresses - water
bed inserts - air mattresses and foam mattresses.

30 DAY TRIA

MEDI-CARE
2 - PCE SET

sugg, retail $399.95

2 - PCE SET

TWIN sugg. retal

SUGG.RETAIL

| $999.95

SALE

“GRAND COMFORT

TWIN

2, PGE SEI

sugg, retail

$699.9.

SUGG.RETAIL SALE

$499.95 $349.95

$599.95 $399.95

EXTRA FIRM

$799.95
$899.95
$1099.95

FIRM
20 YR. WARRANTY

$449.95
$549.95
$699.95

9499.95
$599.95
$799.95

$899.95
$999.95
$1199.95

LUXURY FIRM

15 YR. WARRANTY

No Money Down
No Interesi
Until Feb/ 91 OAC

3196

St. at Tolmi
ACROSS FROM MAYFAIR
AMPLE FREE PARKING AT REAR

383-7313

30 YR. WARRANTY

Mon.-Wed. 9-6
Thurs.-Fri. 9-9
Sat. 9-6
Sun. 12-5

ASK SALESMAN
FOR DETAILS