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ArtsCultureGraphicNovels9TuesdayApril222014FortSmithstoriescometolifeingraphicnovelsOneTribeanthologyshedslight-andfunds-onFirstNationsschoolsByMEAGANWOHLBERGAnewwaveofhilariousheart-wrenchingandmagicalstoriesofFortSmithastoldbyNWT-bornauthorRichardVanCampissoontobepub-lishedfortheworldtoenjoyonlythistimetheywillbebroughttolifebyavarietyofindigenousgraphicartists.VanCampsnewestshortstoriespoemsandprayersareundergoingillustrationforarangeofdifferentpublica-tionsfromcomicanthologiestoseveralfull-blowngraphicnovels.WhiletheresathematicrangetothestoriesVanCampsaidthemajorityleadbacktohishometown.At41yearsolditjustseemsthatmostofthestoriesImwritingnowhaveeitherbeeninspiredbystoriesthathavehappenedinFortSmithorsto-riestoldtomebythegorgeousFortSmithersoftheworldVanCampshared.AmongthoseworksinprogressistheOneTribean-thologyacollectionofcom-icsbyamixofindigenousandnon-indigenouswritersandartiststobepublishedthisfallbyJackLakePro-ductionsasafundraiserforFirstNationsschoolsacrossCanadaintimewiththeopeningofanewschoolinAttawapiskatOnt.JamesWaleyOneTribeseditorsaidthebookwasin-spiredbyanaideventfortsu-namivictimsinJapanwhichwhileimportantcausedhimtoreectonhowcrisesinourbackyardsareoftenignored.ThatwasfurtherampliedbythestateofemergencydeclaredinAttawapiskatwhereitcametolightthatanumberofFirstNationsinCanadawerelivinginab-jectpoverty.ItwasinconceivabletomethatrightinCanadawewouldhaveconditionslikethisWaleysaid.HethenteamedupwithShannensDreamacam-paignforequitableeducationbytheFirstNationsChildandFamilyCaringSocietyofCanada.Anonlinefun-draisingcampaignwillbegatheringfundsforprintingthissummer.VanCamphasthreestoriesinOneTribeoneofwhichcomesdirectlyfromhistimeasateenagegasjockeyatKellysgasbarinFortSmithcalledHickeyGoneWrong.ThestoryisillustratedbyHaidaartistChrisAuchterwhosewackyeccentricgorgeousartisperfectforthetoneofthestoryVanCampsaid.IusedtopumpgasatKellys25yearsagoandIrememberatthatstageofmylifeIknewIprobablywasntgoingtomakeitasaninjasoIstartedtodoartworkandIwasstartingtowritealittlebit.AndIremembersayingtoKellySteedonenightashewasclosingupOnedayImgoingtowriteaboutKel-lysgasstationVanCamprecalled.AllmybrothersworkedthereeverybodythatIgrewupwith.SoHickeyGoneWrongisbasedonastorythatmayormaynothavehappenedtomeormybroth-ersormybestfriendsormycousinsorassociates.TheanthologyalsoincludesanotherstorybyVanCampcalledTheMagicofWol-verinesillustratedbyScottB.Hendersonwhichwasin-spiredbyaneventthattookplaceinVictoria15yearsagowhenhisrentalcarwasbrokenintoandthepreciouscariboudrymeatitcontainedforafriendsweddingwasdestroyed.Iwassoheartbroken...sohorriedforthecaribouwhogavethemselvesforwhatwassupposedtobeafeastIac-tuallysatdownandwroteaprayerforthepeoplewhodidthatandthatsTheMagicofWolverines.VanCampalsohadtheprivilegeofwritinganotherpiecefortheanthology-amodernprayer-whichistobeillustratedbytheluckywinnerofanationalcomicbookartcontestaimedatAboriginalyouthaged12-17yettobeannounced.MorebooksintheworksApartfromOneTribeVanCampisinthemidstofplan-ninghiscomicbookmagnumopusABlanketofButterieswhichhealsohopestohaveillustratedbyHenderson.Thefull-ongraphicnovelfeaturesfamiliarcharactersfromhisnovelTheLesserBlessedandhismanyvol-umesofshortstoriessetinFortSmithandthectionalFortSimmer.ThewholepointofABlanketofButteriesisthatstorytellingcanstopescalat-ingwarsifyouknowyourprotocolandyourhistory.ItsastoryofpeacemakingandhonourandsecondchancesandImsoinlovewiththisgraphicnovelVanCampsaid.Ithinkaboutthisstoryeveryday.ThebiggestappealaboutthebookforVanCampisthathewillnallyseehisimag-inedcharacterslikeTorchyandSfenbroughttolife.Iwanttoseethem.Imreadytomeetthemthatwayhesaid.VanCampalsohasan-othercomicbookonthewaythroughtheSouthSlaveDi-visionalEducationCouncil.CalledThreeFeathersthebookdealswithtraditionalrestorativejusticeandisil-lustratedbyKrystalMateus24ofHayRiver.Itispartofaseriesofbooksdonebytheschoolboardothersofwhichhaveaddressedsexualhealthandgangviolencepre-ventionandissettocomeoutthisfall.HendersonandVanCamparealsoteaminguponastorycalledSwordofAnt-lerscomingoutsooninaUniversityofMichigancom-icsanthology.BesideshiscomicbooksVanCampalsohasasmallnovelcalledWhistlecom-ingoutthisspringfeatur-ingDarcyfromTheLesserBlessedandanewcollec-tionofshortstoriesslatedfor2015calledNightMoves.AhugefanofthegraphicnovelmediumhimselfVanCampsaidheappreciatesthepowerthatillustrationaddstoastoryandtheopportunitiesthatcollaborationprovides.Itsthevisualpoetryofitallhesaid.Iloveitwhenthefinalpanelinastorytakesyourbreathaway...IcouldntdothatinashortstoryIcouldntdothatinapoem.At41yearsolditjustseemsthatmostofthestoriesImwritingnowhaveeitherbeeninspiredbystoriesthathavehappenedinFortSmithorstoriestoldtomebythegorgeousFortSmithersoftheworld.RichardVanCampTheOneTribeanthologyisscheduledtobepublishedthisfall.AllproceedswillbegoingtoFirstNationseducation.RichardVanCampsstoryTheMagicofWolverinesillustratedbyScottB.HendersonisincludedintheOneTribeanthologyalongwithover60othercontributors.ImagecourtesyofJamesWaleyArtworkMarkA.NelsonPhotoscourtesyofRichardVanCamp