First Nations actor Adam Beach spent over two hours visiting with students at Oshki Ogimaag, talking about the importance of setting goals and following their dreams.
The Grand Portage Community welcomed First Nations actor Adam Beach on Tuesday, March 2010. Beach performed for crowd of approximately 150 people at the Grand Portage Community Center at 6:30 p.m. Prior to his evening performance Adam toured the community, met many people living and working in Grand Portage, and made a special visit to the students at Oshki Ogimaag Community School.
At Oshki Ogimaag, students, staff, parents, grandparents and volunteers gathered in the library as Beach delighted all with his down-to-earth manner, sense of humor, and passion for sharing his good fortune with other native people. Beach spent over two hours at the school talking with kids about the importance of setting goals and following their dreams.
He spoke about a film school he is starting on Vancouver Island and invited students to come and learn about different aspects of film production. He recruited five students and directed a student performed one-act play. Following his performance Beach visited with school board members, staff, and volunteers to demonstrate his free online native media services. In both performances, Beach began by talking about his roots on the Dog Creek First Nations Reserve on Lake Manitoba, about 50 miles northwest of Winnipeg. Beach signed autographs and memorabilia for all in attendance and community members of all ages enjoyed visiting with him and hearing inspirational stories of tribulation and triumph.
Grand Portage’s Stone Bridge Singers opened and closed the evening in song. Tribal Council Vice-chair John Morrin provided the welcome. Beach’s spiritual advisor Lee Staples opened with a prayer, and then Beach spoke to community members about the importance of working together to accomplish goals and offered his resources and networking ability to any individuals interested in careers in media and production.
Don Davison of Grand Marais was grateful to Grand Portage for bringing Beach to the community. “It was a wonderful, inspirational speech. I do not like the label ‘motivational speaker’ but he really was motivating, uplifting and inspirational,” said Davison.
Billy Blackwell, speaking on behalf of the Grand Portage community, concluded the evening by thanking Beach for his words.
Beach, 37, is best known for his work in Hollywood feature films such as Windtalkers
with Nicolas Cage, and Flags of
our Fathers
directed by Clint Eastwood. Many people are also familiar with his television roles on Law and Order
and the HBO film Bury My Heart
at Wounded Knee.
Beach’s performance was sponsored by the Grand Portage Lodge and Casino. Photo courtesy of Rick Novitsky
Leave a Reply