Vancouver: b.c.’s aboriginal filmmakers were among 200 delegates who convened in Penticton March 18-20 for the second Aboriginal Media Arts Symposium, comprising seminars and an awards gala.

‘We want to support emerging aboriginal artists in b.c.,’ says symposium coordinator Tracey Bonneau of the Penticton Indian Band, which played host in concert with the Indian Arts Service Organization. ‘Many believe the media arts are out of touch with the aboriginal community.’

At the Aboriginal Media Arts Awards, eight of 14 awards were given to video productions.

Aboriginal Title of the Year honors went to Who’s Land is This? by producer Renae Morriseau, which investigates the land claims question in b.c. The program was coproduced by Coyote Collective and Global Television, which broadcast the special.

The Aboriginal Television & Cable Award went to Dorothy Christian (Klahowya Communications in Vernon), who produces Skylight, a Vision tv series dedicated to giving aboriginal communities a voice. Skylight videographer Rick Sagayadan was given the Aboriginal Cinematography Award.

The Aboriginal Producer/ Screenwriter/Director Award went to Rusty Jack Wilson for The Heart’s Message, a segment about violence in native communities that was broadcast on Shaw Cable’s Ullus Magazine program.

The Future Aboriginal Filmmaker Award went to Vern Bevis and Herb Cook, graduates of the Gulf Island Film & Television School, for their visual essay on violence called Punch, Kick, Fight.

Another short film, Legends of Our Times by Virginia Baptiste, won in the category Aboriginal Media Arts Showcase Choice Awards. Legends, an historical piece, was shown at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa.

The Aboriginal Media Inspiration Award was given to Duane Marchand for To Write is to Be Remembered, about the filmmaker’s brother who died of cancer. To Write was also broadcast as a segment on Ullus Magazine.

The Sponsor and Contributor Award was given to Vancouver Television’s aboriginal affairs magazine First Story, produced by Jeff Bear.

According to Bonneau, the provincial symposium will be held again in 2000 in Penticton in order to organize the aboriginal production community to evaluate the launch of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, which goes live on basic cable Sept. 1.