THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA
MARCH 19, 1999
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THE UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA |
Substance abuse counsellor Don Burnstick knows the pain and havoc alcohol can wreak on individuals and communities, but he doesn't let the suffering he's felt and seen drain him of his sense of humour.
Burnstick combines empathy and entertainment when he performs his play I Am Alcohol: Healing the Wounded Warrior in a benefit performance for UVic's proposed First Peoples House on April 9 at 7:30 p.m. in the University Centre auditorium.
Burnstick, a Cree from Alberta's Alexander reserve, gives alcohol an identity of cunning and deceit from a First Nations perspective. He'll follow the performance with his stand-up comedy routine, appearing with special guest Winston Wuttunee, a Cree entertainer from Eagle Hills, Saskatchewan. Wuttunee has performed throughout Canada and the United States as well as in Europe and the Middle East. He's taken his solo act to folk festivals, schools, friendship centres and conference halls. Wuttunee has appeared in three CBC drama productions and produced several specialty recordings. He now lives in Nanaimo.
The fundraiser is organized by the First Nations student caucus in the school of social work. The First Peoples House will offer a space on campus to welcome and support aboriginal students and provide them with a base for partnerships with both on- and off-campus communities. Proceeds will also go to the First Nations Social Work Fund which assists First Nations students to attend workshops and training seminars, host guest speakers and hold graduation functions.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $12 for students and seniors, $8 for children and $40 for a family (two adults and two children) and are available at the McPherson box office (386-6121) and on campus at the Human and Social Development Building, room 240, or by calling Roger John at 721-6274.