On November 15th and 16th 2011, members of Debajehmujig – Storytellers were invited to participate in the Assembly of First Nations National Forum on First Nation Citizenship at the River Cree Resort in Enoch, Alberta. Throughout the day, our artists listened to a number of panelists engaging in discussion around issues related to restoring First Nations’ own decision making and jurisdiction over citizenship in our Nations.

In the photo:  Josh Peltier and Jessica Wilde Peltier of Debajehmujig – Storytellers on each side with National Chief Shawn A-In-Chut Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations in the middle.  Photo taken in Enoch, Alberta.

Special guest speakers included CEO and President of the National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation Roberta Jamieson, Canadian Senator Dr. Lillian Dyck, and our very own Jeannette Corbiere Lavell – President of the Native Women’s Association of Canada, Anishnabek National Commissioner on Citizenship, and member of the Board of Directors of Debajehmujig – Storytellers.

In the evening, the Assembly of First Nations presented An Evening Arts Gala, during which Debajehmujig artists performed The Global Savages to a very engaged and emotional audience. Standing ovations by the large group of Elders in attendance was very rewarding. Other performers during the Gala included Arik Pipestem (hoop dancer who has traveled the world and performed with Cirque de Soleil’s show ‘Totem’), Art Napoleon (singer songwriter with a unique brand of bush-country blues), Shauit (Innu recording artists), Anna Marie Sewell (first generation Metis poet and cultural arts animator), and Ryan McMahon (comedian, actor, and writer).

As the gathering grew to a close, the Debajehmujig artists were introduced to National Chief Shawn A-In-Chut Atleo by our community member Jeannette Lavell. While brief, this was an opportunity to speak person to person about the enhanced role that artists can play in generating dialogue among community members around important issues. The potential impact of artists and the power of art was clear to Chief Atleo, and by the end of the discussion, so too was the need for the AFN to establish a cultural arts policy to provide a framework for advancing the role of the artist in our communities and Nations.