SFBCIAC's Scrapbook, Page Five
Title
SFBCIAC's Scrapbook, Page Five
Description
Articles describing: 1) The students from the Inkameep Indian Day School, the Can-Oos-Sez Skay-Loo Players, won the Oskenonton Cup for 1940. 2) Paintings by Francis Baptise were displayed at the third annual Rotary Fair in Penticton. 3) Anthony Walsh's efforts at the Inkameep Indian Day School to develop the artistic abilities of his students.
Creator
The Society for the Furtherance of B.C. Indian Arts and Crafts
Source
Royal BC Museum, BC Archives (F/I/R19)
Publisher
Penticton Herald; The Daily Province
Date
1940
Text
SFBCIAC Scrapbook, Page 5
THE PENTICTON HERALD, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1940
“Indian Group of Inkameep Cup Winners”
Major Bullock-Webster Presents Trophy Following Unique Concert At Oliver
Oliver—The pupils of the Inkameep Indian reserve school, the Can-Oos-Sez Skay-Loo Players, gave an excellent performance of Indian songs, dances and legends at their concert presented at the Oliver Legion Theatre on Wednesday evening, April 17. The proceeds of the concert were handed over to the Oliver unit of the Canadian Red Cross, more than $100 being realized.
Never before has a concert of this kind been staged at Oliver, and a capacity crowd witnessed one of the finest demonstrations of perfect harmony in every item on the program. Under the direction of their teacher, Anthony Walsh, the pupils were line-perfect throughout and every word was spoken with the utmost clarity. Rather unique, too, was the total lack of self-consciousness or nervousness on the part of the players, who range in age from five to ten years. The implicit faith with which the youngsters looked to their teacher, Mr. Walsh, for their cues, spoke volumes of praise for his teaching and directorship.
Major L. Bullock-Webster, organizer of community drama, presented the players with the Oskenonton Cup at the conclusion of the concert. The Oskenonton Cup was given to the Indian drama group doing the most artistic work and is challenged annually. It was decided by the judging committee that no other group in the province is doing such good work as the Can-Oos-Sez Skay-Loo Players. The cup is named after Chief Oskenonton (Running Deer), the famous Mohawk chief, who lectured in British Columbia a few years ago. Chief Oskenonton is famous for his portrayal of Hiawatha on the New York stage. he acquired fame for his unique voice and replaced David Bisphan in a play called “Job.” Chief Oskenonton, in his radio talks to the Indians, stressed self-expression, and Major Bullock-Webster said the artistic work done by the Can-Oos-Sez Shay-Loo Players deserves the cup.
The program, which was opened with the singing of “O Canada” translated into the language of the Okanagan Indians, was as follows: Prologue, written by Isabel Christie; play, “The Crickets Must Sing” (written by Isabel Christie); group of songs, “Ah-Mah-Hah,” “Stah-Way-Wy-Oh-Yah,” “Tram-Nah-Nah,” “Trah-Nah-Oh-Ah” and “Ha He”; play, “Why the Chipmunk’s Coat is Striped” (written by Elizabeth Renji; bear dance; play, “Clotilla and the Chief of the Winds” (dialogue written by Anthony Walsh); group of songs, “Ee-Nah,” “Kum-Chee,” “Ah-Nah,” “In-Chah” and “Ah-Yah”; eagle dance; monologue, “Coyote and the Mountains” (written and played by Anthony Walsh); fire dance, with flute and drum accompaniment; play, “Why the Ant’s Waist is Small” written by Isabel Christie); “Koolen Chooten Ken Heets Eel Me Houm Tet” (God Save the King).
As a change from the format of the remaining plays, the Inkameep Indian School, of Oliver, presented two of its outstanding plays, these being next on the program. Ranging from eight to twelve years of age, the young players made their voices ring out through the theatre without difficulty. They were highly complimented for the way they “framed” the stage and for their wide, sweeping gestures, their productions having a finished quality that pleased the audience.
At the conclusion of Friday evening’s session, Mr. Miller presented Anthony Walsh, teacher of the Indian school and director of the play, with a special award.
THE DAILY PROVINCE, MAY.12, 1940
“Indian Artist’s Work To Be Shown Here”
(Special to The Daily Province.)
PENTICTON, May 10.—One of the most interesting exhibits at the third annual Rotary Fair in Penticton was the display of art by Francis Baptiste, 19-year old Indian, whose paintings have earned him fame in art circles in Canada and England.
Within a few weeks this young artist, the son of the chief of the Inkameep Indians, will hold a one-man exhibition at the coast. The display at the Penticton carnival included some of his finest water colors of animals. He is also experimenting in oils.
THE PENTICTON HERALD, MAY.12, 1940
“Inkameep is a Monument to One Man”
Working quietly, without hope of material reward, Anthony Walsh has made the Inkameep Indian school at Oliver a widely known institution. Not only has the teacher accomplished wonders in developing the innate artistic trends of his pupils—in itself no mean achievement—but he has added emphasis to a vital principale [sic], that all races, all peoples, have something to contribute to the cultural wealth of humanity.
The art of the “white man” was not foisted on the young Indians, nor applied as a superficial polish to their work. Neither has the teacher developed a theatrical atmosphere amid the products of his school.
Instead, he has shown us all that this school and perhaps many others, can make use of other tools and methods, and yet retain an essential purity of technique, of artistic expression. Thus they can make known the lessons they have learned through the ages, adding their contribution to the cultural progress of life.
Penticton Herald
May 2 - 1940
THE PENTICTON HERALD, THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 1940
“Indian Group of Inkameep Cup Winners”
Major Bullock-Webster Presents Trophy Following Unique Concert At Oliver
Oliver—The pupils of the Inkameep Indian reserve school, the Can-Oos-Sez Skay-Loo Players, gave an excellent performance of Indian songs, dances and legends at their concert presented at the Oliver Legion Theatre on Wednesday evening, April 17. The proceeds of the concert were handed over to the Oliver unit of the Canadian Red Cross, more than $100 being realized.
Never before has a concert of this kind been staged at Oliver, and a capacity crowd witnessed one of the finest demonstrations of perfect harmony in every item on the program. Under the direction of their teacher, Anthony Walsh, the pupils were line-perfect throughout and every word was spoken with the utmost clarity. Rather unique, too, was the total lack of self-consciousness or nervousness on the part of the players, who range in age from five to ten years. The implicit faith with which the youngsters looked to their teacher, Mr. Walsh, for their cues, spoke volumes of praise for his teaching and directorship.
Major L. Bullock-Webster, organizer of community drama, presented the players with the Oskenonton Cup at the conclusion of the concert. The Oskenonton Cup was given to the Indian drama group doing the most artistic work and is challenged annually. It was decided by the judging committee that no other group in the province is doing such good work as the Can-Oos-Sez Skay-Loo Players. The cup is named after Chief Oskenonton (Running Deer), the famous Mohawk chief, who lectured in British Columbia a few years ago. Chief Oskenonton is famous for his portrayal of Hiawatha on the New York stage. he acquired fame for his unique voice and replaced David Bisphan in a play called “Job.” Chief Oskenonton, in his radio talks to the Indians, stressed self-expression, and Major Bullock-Webster said the artistic work done by the Can-Oos-Sez Shay-Loo Players deserves the cup.
The program, which was opened with the singing of “O Canada” translated into the language of the Okanagan Indians, was as follows: Prologue, written by Isabel Christie; play, “The Crickets Must Sing” (written by Isabel Christie); group of songs, “Ah-Mah-Hah,” “Stah-Way-Wy-Oh-Yah,” “Tram-Nah-Nah,” “Trah-Nah-Oh-Ah” and “Ha He”; play, “Why the Chipmunk’s Coat is Striped” (written by Elizabeth Renji; bear dance; play, “Clotilla and the Chief of the Winds” (dialogue written by Anthony Walsh); group of songs, “Ee-Nah,” “Kum-Chee,” “Ah-Nah,” “In-Chah” and “Ah-Yah”; eagle dance; monologue, “Coyote and the Mountains” (written and played by Anthony Walsh); fire dance, with flute and drum accompaniment; play, “Why the Ant’s Waist is Small” written by Isabel Christie); “Koolen Chooten Ken Heets Eel Me Houm Tet” (God Save the King).
As a change from the format of the remaining plays, the Inkameep Indian School, of Oliver, presented two of its outstanding plays, these being next on the program. Ranging from eight to twelve years of age, the young players made their voices ring out through the theatre without difficulty. They were highly complimented for the way they “framed” the stage and for their wide, sweeping gestures, their productions having a finished quality that pleased the audience.
At the conclusion of Friday evening’s session, Mr. Miller presented Anthony Walsh, teacher of the Indian school and director of the play, with a special award.
THE DAILY PROVINCE, MAY.12, 1940
“Indian Artist’s Work To Be Shown Here”
(Special to The Daily Province.)
PENTICTON, May 10.—One of the most interesting exhibits at the third annual Rotary Fair in Penticton was the display of art by Francis Baptiste, 19-year old Indian, whose paintings have earned him fame in art circles in Canada and England.
Within a few weeks this young artist, the son of the chief of the Inkameep Indians, will hold a one-man exhibition at the coast. The display at the Penticton carnival included some of his finest water colors of animals. He is also experimenting in oils.
THE PENTICTON HERALD, MAY.12, 1940
“Inkameep is a Monument to One Man”
Working quietly, without hope of material reward, Anthony Walsh has made the Inkameep Indian school at Oliver a widely known institution. Not only has the teacher accomplished wonders in developing the innate artistic trends of his pupils—in itself no mean achievement—but he has added emphasis to a vital principale [sic], that all races, all peoples, have something to contribute to the cultural wealth of humanity.
The art of the “white man” was not foisted on the young Indians, nor applied as a superficial polish to their work. Neither has the teacher developed a theatrical atmosphere amid the products of his school.
Instead, he has shown us all that this school and perhaps many others, can make use of other tools and methods, and yet retain an essential purity of technique, of artistic expression. Thus they can make known the lessons they have learned through the ages, adding their contribution to the cultural progress of life.
Penticton Herald
May 2 - 1940
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Citation
The Society for the Furtherance of B.C. Indian Arts and Crafts, “SFBCIAC's Scrapbook, Page Five,” The Story is More than Itself, accessed April 19, 2024, https://thestoryismorethanitself.omeka.net/items/show/18.