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Leather Pass Chronicles News Views and little known truths from the Canadian Rockies... |
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E-NEWS NOW ONLINE MAY 2006
On MountainTop Rock
Bikeology and Caribou From Fiddler on the Roof to Fiddler on the Rails Traditions made new again, First Nations art AUGUST2006 Heritage Month
UNESCO's Indigenous Peoples Day
Tom Thomson and the Pine Beetle
Is that a Mexican Flag on the Banff Springs?
Green Party on the right track
Community museums are key to culture
The Who, Trailer Park Boys and Mel Hurtig Ah, November - its all about the weather
Victorias Secret, Caribou and Indian Giving
A year to bond and Juan Helluva Night
COMING SOON Foothills Mens Chorus Artists on Rails
Cowboy Poetry Gathering
SPECIAL Jasper Volunteer Fire Dept in action Other VideoLogs by DTMI
These webcasts will be available on line for a limited amount of time. They will be archived and available upon request after that.
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AUGUST 2006 Neufeld Watchel and Watchel Second season of Artists on Rails comes to the end of the run Updated August 19, 2006 JASPER, Alberta - The Neufeld Watchel family give a whole new meaning to the words family harmony. For two nights this week they entertained diners at the Sawridge - fiddle, bass and guitar.
"I'll fly away O Glory" packed the rail car to capacity as these artists treated VIA Rail patrons to their classic folk repertoire. For the second season in a row VIA Rail has offered travelers the opportunity to hear and see some of Alberta's top musicians, painters and authors throughout the summer. This small troupe was discovered through Cam Neufelds Eastern Canadian influenced fiddlin' and cloggin'...
click on arrow to see Cam in action!
The next and final 'Artist' on Rails is author Todd Babiak, Sept 28th. He is being brought to town as part of the Artists in the Pines program. On Sept 29th, Todd will be signing books at the Fitzhugh newspaper office. He should feel right at home among the journalists (Todd is a Culture Writer for the Edmonton Journal).
Unesco's World Day for Indigenous People First Nations sing and dance at the Sawridge Updated August 9, 2006 JASPER, Alberta - If a peaceful intimate dinner was what the patrons at the Sawridge were hoping for tonight, that is unfortunate. At 8pm the atrium, lobby and dining room were brought to life with song and dance.
As the drums resonated off of the 30 foot ceiling there was no disputing that these artists had indeed arrived.
Actually, according to some Elders, the phrase would more accurately be - not arrived as much as returned. The National Park is in the midst of a process with First Nations over the use of the traditional sites inside the Park boundaries. These sacred sites and ceremonial grounds are now unaccessible until the federal government can 'develop a framework for activity'. Ironically, the original keepers of these sacred places did not have such 'frameworks'. The land was not property. It was not something they had 'historical links' to - those are concepts created by governments foreign to the fact that these first peoples are inextricably linked to the land. So - a few songs were shared with the hotel patrons and then the music was taken outside. Where, for a little while this evening, you could feel the power and energy of the drum and imagine what it must have been like just 100 years ago in the mountains.
Missed it? Then make sure you mark your calendar for Nov 17th and 18th, the Heritage Gala weekend at the Sawridge Jasper.
Heritage Month From construction to cooking, Jasperites hold heritage close
Updated: August 8, 2006 JASPER, Alberta - Heritage Day in Jasper, you may not have seen great displays of patronage to the many ethnic beginnings like those displayed in Edmonton or Calgary, but the care for heritage can be seen in everything from new construction to preparing menus this autumn in Jasper.
Just ask Michal Wasuita, owner of Pine Bungalows. In late 2005 he began a project to build a new facility. To make room for the new structure an old one had to come down. Rather than simply bulldoze he chose to strip the building of any reusable materials like the 50+ year old pine that will be used in the new building. A simple move that is in keeping with his ecological concepts for the new group facility. We caught up with Michal this week and got a sneak preview of how his vision for a multi million dollar project managed to incorporate the simple values of heritage that he holds close as a result of growing up in Jasper.
And the pine looks amazing!
Also in Jasper this September you will find restaurants, like Fiddle River, taking part in an initiative called DINE ALBERTA. A program designed to get Alberta food producers and consumers to know each other. An opportunity for chefs to show off Alberta's culinary heritage through unique and distinctly Albertan menus. Fiddle River's Chef John Riedler didn't take long in coming up with 'The Stook' appetizer, the 'David Thompson Harvest' entree and the 'River of No Return' dessert.
And interestingly - both of these gentleman can be found in one venue this September - Pine Bungalows will be hosting the ARTISTS IN THE PINES weekend where John will be serving up his Heritage Menu as the caterer for the weekend. He will also be hosting two workshops on cooking Sept 30th and Oct 1st.
From hotel owners to chefs, it would be difficult to live in Jasper and not be influenced by the heritage that surrounds the Leather Pass.
May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 Sept 2006 Oct 2006 Nov 2006
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