The Chilliwack Progress from Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada • Page 25

114 Young St. S. Chilliwack 792-0711 or Cottonwood Corner Mall 858-9491 QSt ChiKiWQCk credit union SPECIAL DEPOSITS 30 120 DAYS Wednesday, March 7, 1979 Section FIRST MORTGAGES T1 Tl Prime 3-5 Years the Permanent lnT' Prison co-op produces extraordinary art work mates work together to produce carvings that rival those created by any artist in the province. For five years inmates, most In museums, art galleries and wood, stone and ivory, exclusive shops you will find You will also find these things beautiful, hand-carved, in a workshop at Agassiz Moun- traditional Indian art work of tain Prison. There a group of in "It's like stepping into another world you don't have the same atmosphere there as you do here." The co-op produces items that range from baby cradles, tables and chairs to totem poles, carved wooden spoons and boxes, and wall carvings.

The pieces are sold to retail outlets in Vancouver and other places, and to individuals who request work. One carver, Pat Jeffries, has worked extensively in slate stone and ivory. One carving, done on a whale tusk, features three polar bears on the tip of the tusk, and two tiny, intricate scenes on the sides of Eskimos in kayaks and seals in the background. The detailed faces of the Eskimos are only about one-eighth of an inch wide. Roy Hanuse hopes the co-op will eventually expand into other types of art work.

He has worked with silk screen himself and may try to start work in silver. backgrounds of experience, noted Roy Hanuse, who succeeded Joe Pitt as president recently. "Some of them have never picked up a knife before." One member of the co-op said he had never seen a totem pole before he came to Agassiz. Others had done some carvng but not seriously. "I'm encouraging the guys to develop what they've picked up and create their own style," Roy said.

The members are learning what some of the traditional Indian symbols mean, and are incorporating them into their own styles of work. The inmates spoke positively of the skills they lerned in the co-op. A member of NELOF, said vice-president Sonny Morrison, "has got a trade that the institution couldn't teach him." Although there is an upholstery shop and a sign painting shop at the prison, he noted, NELOF has become "more of a rehabilitative program." Another inmate added that the work gives the inmates a sense of accomplishment. "It's given them confidence and a new set of values," agreed Roy. "We're learning to work together," he added.

"We're getting together. There's no animosity between the guys." Involvement in NELOF gives emotional support, especially during difficult times, such as problems with the parole board, another inmate added. "If it wasn't for the guys in here I don't know what I would have done," he said. He added that, "when a person comes to prison he doesn't have that sort of responsible type of life. We're learning from each other.

We pick up responsibilities from each other." The workshop sets the members apart from the rest of the institution, another inmate, Leonard Paquette, indicated. present two mornings a week. The co-op was started by Joe Pitt in February, 1974. The purpose was to provide inmates with a way of supporting themselves. Every year, Joe noted, "it costs $25,000 to keep me here." He feels' it should not be necessary for Canadian taxpayers to support prisoners.

The program was difficult at first to get going, he said. "There were always a few carvers in the institution, but none of them ever got together to learn from one another." Carvers come from various from Indian or part-Indian ljackgrounds, have been learning, carving and selling their work as imembers of a co-operative called NELOF (Native Extraordinary Line of Furniture). Although NELOF first concentrated on making furniture, the wrk has now expanded and art pieces account for most of the production. There are presently 16 men in the co-op, representing several tribes, including Kwakiutl, Coast Salish, Cree, Micmac and Mistassini. An instructor, Larry Rosso of the Indian Arts and Crafts Society, is '-'I 1 I V.

-V I'V NEARING COMPLETION Sonny Morrison (left) and Roy Hanuse work on a totem pole, one of the projects of the NELOF co-op at Agassiz Mountain Prison. AM 1 1977 PONTIAC TRANS Auto. 19,4501711165 1 977 POtlH TRANS AM lOOoWrTesSpeed 1 978 PONTIAC TRANS AM Loaded and A Real Beauty 1977 DODGE 1978 CHEVROLET 12 TON PICKUP 1976 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO ASPJ 25,000 Km, 2 Door, Lo Clean and Straight P.S Low Mileage '5650 J5350 $4695 6850 Cruise, Like new Clean, One Owner jki 'III! b- 1978 LT CAMARO 1977BUICK ELECTRA LTD 1977 Z-28 CAMARO 1977 PONTIAC LefMlfllJAN Cruise Contifl" pa Mint Condition 3d, 33 9000 Km 4 Speed Like New 20,000 Miles, Excellent Condition 2 Loaded, 20,000 Local Miles 7650 $9650 7250 1978 HONDA ACCORD 1977MALIBU CLASSIC SEDAN 1975BUICK LeSADiHOAN 1978 CHEVROLET VAN Std. SCCTA 13,000 Km, Like New 5 speed, One Owner, Loaded and 4n 29,000 Miles, Clean 6395 54650 s4995 Km, as New 1972 VOLKSWAGEN STATION WAGON 1977 CMC TON PICKUP 1976 PONTIAC BONNEVILLE Privately (aap Owned, Loaded, Mint OYVD 1977 CHEVROLET Vi TON PICKUP P.S., SVITOC Radio, 19,000 Miles ItD Make Us An Offer! Asking '2000 30,000 Miles, P.S., P.B., radio, etc $4995 19780LDSM0BILE CUTLASS SEDAN 1977 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX 1978 COUGAR XR7 1978 PONTIAC PHOENIX $5995 Loaded, With Extras Like New 20,000 Km, Mint Condition 7450 7250 20,000 I Km s6150 WE WILL NOT KNOWINGLY BE UNDERSOLD BROWNIES MEET MAYOR Nancy Cleveland (left) and Christl Redding presented a plaque of pennies for Brownie "Thinking Day" to Township Mayor Ken Kiernan at the council meeting last week. The two girls are from the First Sardis Brownie Pack.

The pennies were arranged around the International Year of the Child emblem, and the plaque was judged the best of the Vedder Mountain District. It will be on display at the municipal hall. Township council reimbursed the pack for the amount of pennies on the plaque, and the money will be turned over to the Girl Guides IYC project, "Clear Water" for all by 1990. Photo by Winda Redding 3sr.