Above: Lee Maracle ???? via Vancouver Public Library
By Arts Editor Cheryl Folland
A diaspora is “Any group that has been dispersed outside its traditional homeland, especially involuntarily, as Africans during the Transatlantic slave trade, refugees of war, exiled peoples, and North America’s Indigenous,” according to <dictionary.com>. Since colonialism, the conversation around diaspora has been greatly limited and ignored.
Rarer, still, are the voices of Indigenous women telling the unedited version of history. Now, emergent Indigenous voices are leading the arts community ...
By Managing Editor Molly Barrieau
This issue, The Nav was inspired by NASA’s recent findings of exoplanets in another solar system. Thus we have decided to incorporate the extra-terrestrial into our stories. But what about Earth?
Here in the True North (Canada), we are fortunate to have one of the highest land mass per person ratio. According to flowingdata.com, who provided me with a snazzy infographic showing major countries and their land versus the population, compared to China and India, Canadians have almost three times as much space.
My sister moved to heavily-populated China ...
By contributor Gordan Hak
On March 24, Dr. Debra Pentecost, Department of Media Studies, will give an illustrated talk beginning at 10 am in the Malaspina Theatre. The presentation is entitled “Beyond the Boundaries of Image and Text: Telling Difficult Stories” and is part of VIU’s long-running Arts & Humanities Colloquium Series.
Pentecost has long been interested in the challenges encountered by photojournalists and documentary filmmakers when trying to represent experiences of war, conflict, and trauma, and the innovative forms utilized to deal with the challenges of ...
By Arts Editor Cheryl Folland
WHAT
Festival Nanaimo, multi-faceted community festival running throughout Nanaimo.
WHERE
The month of March, various venues.
WHY BE THERE?
Covering all avenues of art, performance, music, theatre, visual, dining, beer tastings and more, finishing with the third annual PirateFest taking place March 22-25. For more information on activities and ticketing information visit festivalnanaimo.com.
WHAT
The Old City Laugh Lounge starring Patrick Maliha of Vancouver, BC, with special guests Andrew Mack, Riley Aquino, and more.
WHERE
March 10, at Old City ...
By Arts Editor Cheryl Folland
Louis Patterson & Dane Letourneau at White Sails
Engaging the whole audience from the first song, Louis Patterson proved his merit as an emerging folk artist. With deep growls and soulful soft tones, his lyrical poetry became smooth and sensual on the waves of folk guitar. Powerful lyrics from original pieces hung in the open room.
“I could drown myself in darkness, or I could breathe out the light.” This understated and humble guy, dressed in red flannel and jeans, told a relatable story with every song he played. “I had not seen just a vision, ...
By Associate Editor Natalie Gates
’ll be the first to admit that I’m a bit of a hypocrite when it comes to getting to school. I strongly believe in promoting public transit, biking, and walking—especially since Nanaimo is going to be receiving a “transit upgrade” by implementing the allegedly more environmentally friendly Compressed Natural Gas powered buses. But this year, I’ve been driving to school for the first time.
I live close enough to school that I could make it there in about 20-30 minutes. But I don’t finish until dark and would rather not trek home through the woods at ...
By Arts Editor Cheryl Folland
What
Kiran Ahulwalia, Juno Award winner of Best World Music Album and her five piece band.
When
Wednesday March 1, The Port Theatre, 7:30 pm, pre show chat in the Harmac Room at 6:45 pm.
Why be there
Seattle Times called Kiran’s music “...a transitional sound as fresh as tomorrow,” blending blues, jazz and mysticism. Listeners are invited to experience a memorable and enchanting evening of world music.
Tickets adults $42, members $38, students $15, eyeGO $5.
Tickets available at theporttheatre.com.
What
Sugar & Spice: ...
Above: ???? Natalie Gates
By Associate Editor Natalie Gates
Overnight oats are a super nutritious alternative to processed breakfast cereal. Plus, a minute of prep the night before saves you lots of time in the morning, compared to cooking hot oats, and they can easily be taken to go. Bursting with yummy whole foods, they’ll keep you full and satisfied all morning. The add-ins can be mixed up to suit your taste, or made from whatever you have lying around the house; this version is packed with protein, fiber, Omega 3s, and vitamins, and is free of any added sugars.
Mix the following ...
By contributor Mariah Vanderzee
I’ve always loved visiting the sets of my favourite TV shows. At first, it was solely an opportunist way to kill time while in Vancouver, waiting for one thing or another.
Once I crashed the set of CW’s The Flash in hopes of seeing something or someone. Not much happened, but Grant Gustin (The Flash from the CW show) and Wentworth Miller (Captain Cold) did see us; they smiled and waved. Had we stayed, as some fans did, we would have seen the gentlemen come out later to say ‘hi’ and pose for photos. It’s that easy.
The next time I happened upon the set ...
By contributor Sarah Segal
Vancouver Island University students are ready to vote in the BC Provincial Election.
“We continue to see a government who consistently underfunds education,” said Avery Bonner, VIU Students’ Union spokesperson. “Today, higher education is not optional; it is mandatory. For that reason, British Columbians need a government that has a vision that includes investing in education.”
Youth voting increased by nearly ten percent in the last provincial election, due, in part, to the campaign work of BC students. This election, students across the province will ...
Above: The VIU MUN delegation at the 2016 UBC MUN conference in January. ???? Sarah Abdulka
By Associate Editor Natalie Gates
VIU MUN is looking to host its first conference on campus since 2011, with the theme “Taking Action on the Sustainable Development Goals: Tackling Climate Change and the 2030 Agenda”.
This conference is open to high school, and college clubs in the area, as well as all VIU students who are interested in attending as delegates for a weekend of diplomacy, debate, and international relations. Global Studies and Political Studies Professor Mark Williams ...
By Arts Editor Cheryl Folland
Overlooking the harbour from the third floor of The Port Theatre, patrons seated themselves among the rows of chairs and waited for the pre-show chat to begin. Art by local high school students hung on the walls. Images in pencil, coloured pencil, and mixed mediums, at a professional level quality, created an appropriate setting to discuss the art and methodology behind the February 3 performances.
What has informed your art to get you to this point?
Cris: I grew up in Northern Alberta, in the Buffalo Head Hills. I’m half Cree and half Mennonite. I’ve ...
Above: The Mariners gather for a timeout. ???? Cole Schisler
By Sports and Lifestyle Editor Cole Schisler
The Mariners ended their regular season with an impressive three-set victory over Vancouver Island rivals, the Camosun Chargers, on Saturday, February 18.
The match started with an emotional farewell to Mariners star power hitter Megan Rosenlund, who is finishing her fifth year with the Mariners. In a PACWEST All Access interview with Ryan Watters, Rosenlund said leaving the league is, “scary to think of, but I’ve been trying to stay in the moment, and practice each day with ...
By Managing Editor Molly Barrieau
I now completely understand the true physicality of the term “blood, sweat, and tears”. You’re sitting there, hunched over, staring at the unending abyss of snowy mountain forest, and you can’t will yourself to get up and try again. You roll over, get on your hands and knees, and the tears drip onto the fluffy snow. The overabundance of adrenaline pumping through your body has you shaking, stress sweat soaks your clothes, muscles aching.
I tried snowboarding last weekend. How do you think it went?
I know, “you just gotta try again,” “nothing to it ...
Above: The Mariners huddle to start the match. ???? Cole Schisler
By Sports and Lifestyle Editor Cole Schisler
After winning against the Camosun Chargers 3-2 on February 17, the Mariners hosted their Vancouver Island rivals to end the season with a suspenseful 3-1 victory. Many Mariners alumni attended the game, and watched proudly as the Mariners won.
“You always want to finish the season on a high note,” Head Coach Abe Avender said. “With a crowd like this, that has over forty men’s alumni in attendance, it was nice for the guys to play at a good level, and come out with a ...
By contributor Alex Gaiger
With the advent of Kickstarter and 3D printers, the hobby of tabletop roleplaying games (RPGs) has never been richer. Throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) was the one game that everyone played. Others came and went, but D&D had taken hold of the nerd psyche in the ‘70s and never really let go. Despite financial troubles in the ‘90s, it remained the go-to RPG that everyone had played. Now, all the people that grew up playing D&D, and the games that came after, are running the show—and that show has never been better.
I’d like ...
By Arts Editor Cheryl Folland
After taking transit to a local Tim Hortons in the early morning hours on January 28, and purchasing the largest double-double I could get my hands on, I climbed into a van with three members of Nanaimo’s Film Industry and began the short trek to Victoria BC. We were headed down to the Reel Jobs in Film Career Fair, sponsored by GT Hiring Solutions and Vancouver Island South Media and Film Commission, promised leading experts in all things industry related. What they weren’t banking on, was the turn out.
“This morning, a colleague thought 80 pamphlets ...
By News Editor Aislinn Cottell
In an age when the internet offers, but also condemns us to, a constant bombardment of often conflicting information, a certain kind of paralysis can occur. The seemingly endless fountain of facts, “alternative” facts, opinions, and ultimatums becomes an overwhelming cacophony, and sorting through the noise to some semblance of truth, let alone determining what action should be taken in response, can seem borderline impossible to attempt.
A crucial part of navigating this often confusing and seemingly contradictory landscape, however, is to not remain a ...
Above: An artist's rendering of the proposed events centre. ???? Courtsesy NanaimoNewsNOW
By contributor Kelly Whiteside
Two years ago, when our Nanaimo city council was elected, none of the nine councillors mentioned a multiplex or event centre as a priority in their platforms. Now, over the course of a few months, council has spent upwards of $500K on this project, without asking the citizens of Nanaimo if this is what they want.
The concept of a multiplex in Nanaimo is not new—it was first dreamt up in 2002 by previous Clippers owner Dieter Peter, and has been a recurring ...
Above: Photo courtesy of tradesappliedtech.viu.ca
By Dane Gibson, VIU Communications
Sometimes you have to get things wrong to make things right, a lesson students in the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Professional Baking and Pastry Arts Program are about to learn, as they gather around eight fresh-out-of-the-oven loaves of bread. Each one baked with different grains, such as kamut, red fife, spelt, and stone ground whole wheat. The unique aroma fills the air and almost immediately it’s clear–something smells wrong.
But that’s the point of instructor Martin Barnett’s cause and ...
Above: ???? Cheryl Folland
By Arts Editor Cheryl Folland
On February 10, listening to Caleb Hart and The Royal Youths set up for soundcheck, at The Queens, and planning their two short sets, their chill vibe was already spreading. As each person shouted ideas, “we can do that” was the answer. In between last-minute decisions, I had the opportunity to learn what life is like while touring incessantly.
You’ve been touring non-stop, how do you keep centered on the road?
Caleb: I am healthier now than when I first started. Learning not to indulge in everything that’s offered to me. I ...
Above: ???? Cole Schisler
By Sports and Lifestyle Editor Cole Schisler
Even if you have never met Ray Chin, if you are a student at Vancouver Island University, it’s likely that you have heard him playing his violin around the bus loops, or outside the upper cafeteria.
“Here in Nanaimo the weather is beautiful. This kind of environment helps me to focus on my music,” Chin said. “I’m trying to connect with more people in general so I can develop my performance skills.”
Chin has been playing violin since he was six-years old; he is now 26, and studying education at VIU. Originally ...
By Sports and Lifestyle Editor Cole Schisler
Cole is a second-year Bachelor of Arts student majoring in creative writing, minoring in political science. He has an interest in all things exciting, mundane, or otherwise. He hopes to one day become an author, actor, comedian, editor, and rapper, while moonlighting as an astronaut.
By Krista Meckelborg
The recent passing of Stuart McLean of CBC's The Vinyl Cafe reminds us how art brings people together. The Canadian radio host, humourist, and author has, once again, given us an opportunity to reflect on the importance of art in our communities. Canada is filled with people reminiscing over road trips with their families, and Sunday evening get-togethers spent listening to McLean's brilliant stories.
This sense of community that comes from the arts is even more clear when it comes to music. Has a song or line of melody brought you back to a memory ...
