I recently visited the National Art Gallery in Ottawa where there was an exhibit called 'Stealing the Gaze' featuring Aboriginal self-portraits.  There were several self-portraits by Jeff Thomas.  He had pictures of young Aboriginal men, and also of his son, around important places like reserve land or in front of a Department of Indian Affairs building.  They were powerful images of Aboriginal men.  It was great to see a Canadian artist making these photographs that show an Aboriginal man taking hold of his own image and the images of his people.

I got to thinking about how Aboriginal men are portrayed in the Canadian news media.  I talked with a lot of people and found it very difficult to find an Aboriginal man featured in Canadian news media in a positive light.  The two current ones we're hearing about are Patrick Brazeau and David Ahenakew.  Both men have been leaders of particular Aboriginal groups and both men have been surrounded with their own controversy.  David Ahenakew made anti-semitic remarks in an interview with a reporter in Saskatchewan, withdrew his remarks and apologized, and has consistently been reported on in relation to hate speech and anti-semitism.  Rarely are Canadians aware of David Ahenakew's work in advocacy for Aboriginal people.

Patrick Brazeau was the leader of the Congress of Aboriginal People before being appointed by Stephen Harper to become a conservative senator in 2008.  Canadian news agencies rarely report on Patrick Brazeau without referring to allegations of sexual harrassment, or the 'encouragement' of alcohol use at his previous workplace.  Few Canadians are aware of Brazeau's political ideals (even if I don't personally agree with them), or contributions to the larger debates among Aboriginal groups in Canada.

Tom King is a brilliant man, an award winning author, professor of literature, and recently ran as an NDP candidate in the federal election.  I think its safe to say if either Malcolm Gladwell, a non-Aboriginal male best-selling author, or Douglas Coupland, a white male award winning author, ran as a candidate in a federal election the national media would have been all over their campaigns.  Mr. King's coverage was mostly contained within the Guelph, Ontario newspaper, where he ran.  There are Aboriginal boys and families all over the country that would have been interested in Tom King's campaign, yet there was such little attention. Why?

Where can young Aboriginal men look to find role models in the national spotlight in Canada?  Where are there good discussions going on for young Aboriginal men to join on health, sexuality, culture, and lifestyle where they might be in contact with potential role models?

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Robert is a teacher, writer, and aspiring chef-at-home living and working in downtown Toronto.