Poundmaker’s Floyd Favel Order of Merit recipient

He joins nine others (Tribal Chief Mark Arcand, Saskatoon, Brynn Boback-Lane of Saskatoon, Dr. Thomas Hadjistavropoulos of Regina, Renu Kapoor, S.V.M. of Regina, Curtis Kleisinger of Regina, Brad Wall of Cypress Hills, Colonel (Ret’d) Malcolm Young C.D. of Saskatoon, Greg Yuel and Olivia Yuel, of Saskatoon) in being a recipient and, looks forward to the ceremony that will take place on June 19 in Regina.

“I’m there to – I guess also represent the history of my community and my own people and I’m grateful to the chief and council, the people of my community for having given me the space and the opportunity to exercise and practice my cultural art,” said Favel noting he also thanks former Councilor Milton Tootoosis, former Chief Blaine Favel, Elder Ken Tootoosis for their continued support, and Poundmaker Museum and Gallery Volunteers Alexandra Nordstrom, Delainee Antoine and Erin Simaganis.

According to a release, the award is given out to people “in recognition of their significant contributions in areas such as agriculture, business, industry, community leadership, public service, art, research and volunteering.”

Favel explained as a child, he was curious and would often listen to stories and was always involved in creative works though it didn’t become a career until he became an adult.

“I went to school in Denmark and Italy working in the realm of theatre as a writer and as a director, but I moved back to my community in the 1990s,” he said.

Slowly, Favel explained, he found “a community-based practice that utilized and recognized my language and also within my community starting to create that arts and culture and history that are part of the fabric of a living community.”

Since that time, the artist has worked to develop programing through the museum, Poundmaker Indigenous Performance Festival and Plains Indian Sign” Language Workshop. He has also written a few books and produced two films on the Delmas Residential School.

“They’re all related because they all originate in and are grounded in an Indigenous community and language,” he said of the various projects ongoing in the community.

The announcement was made earlier last week, and Favel said it was an acknowledgement to what he called a “labour of love.”

“A labour anyways to, in some form – be it book, film or performance festival or story telling or sign language – to try to capture our living culture as it exists in the moment,” he said.

“You can say it’s for the current generation and it’s for the future generation but also, it’s an honouring of the past generations. So, to me it means a lot.”

The recognition has been celebrated by his friends and family and he explained while their home has turned out some high achievers, Favel said they hope this award will inspire the young generation.

“I hope this award can give a positive example to up and coming young people – not only in my community but in our province,” he said.

“Then I look forward to come back to the community with the award and find a way to celebrate with them in a holistic manner,” he added of a potential picnic or barbecue to thank them.

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julia.lovettsquires@pattiosonmedia.com

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by Julia Lovett-Squires

Poundmaker’s Floyd Favel Order of Merit recipient

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