First Nation schools working together to produce play about prescription drug misuse
For the fourth year in a row the students at Eel Ground First Nation are being challenged to produce another award winning play about an important social issue challenging all communities across the country. The former principal of the school is now teaching in China. He is using the plays produced in previous years to support the Chinese students at his new school to learn about producing plays about these types of issues (see his message below the following newspaper article) ... Brian
Eel Ground, Elsipogtog drama students spread message about prescription drug misuse
Wendy Patterson, patterson.wendy@miramichileader.com - February 19, 2009
EEL GROUND - It's about getting the message out, said Ryan Ward, a Grade 8 student at Eel Ground First Nation School.
A four year veteran of the school's drama club, Ward was explaining about their new play PDM: The Game Show, which had its first official reading at the school on Tuesday.
"It's about prescription drug misuse," he said. "And we're trying to get a message out not to misuse drugs because if they do they can die or get hooked on it. And what I learned over the past couple years is that it's probably one of the worst drugs you can get hooked on."
Like almost all of the Eel Ground club's plays, this one was written by drama teacher John Bosma, who also composed the song "Doctor, Doctor, Give me a Pill" sung by the chorus.
This year's production is something new, however, because for the first time it will be put on by two First Nations schools working together. Bosma has started working with a drama club in Elsipogtog First Nation, and on Tuesday the Elsipogtog students joined the Eel Ground students at their school for the reading.
It was a festive occasion, with drama games in the morning and pizza, fried chicken, pop and cake for lunch. The students from the two schools mingled, making new acquaintances and catching up with old friends. After lunch, they all crowded into the Grade 5-6 classroom for the reading.
Eel Ground student Hunter Francis explained that the play follows an episode of a game show where the contestants make wagers and answer multiple-choice questions about prescription drug misuse.
The show is called What do you Wager, he said.
"It's like The Price is Right." added Ward. "It's prescription drug misuse week on the show and they're wrapping it up."
Francis said he plays "Barker," the game show host. "I am pretty much the person like on Deal or No Deal, like Howie Mandel," he said.
He has 56 paragraphs of lines to remember, so he said he is glad that the host gets to hold cue cards.
Grade 5 student Kiana Patles of Eel Ground is playing "Peggy," the five-day champion on the show.
"She comes back every [time] and everyone thinks she does it for the money, but she doesn't," Patles explained. "She has five kids under the age of six!"
The "commercial breaks" between the rounds of the game show are filled with testimonials from characters who have survived prescription drug misuse. These involve senior citizens selling their drugs to afford food and heat, people stealing from friends to feed their addiction, and many stories of broken homes and lost families.
Graciah Augustine, a Grade 7 student at Elsipogtog, plays "Sandy," a girl who intentionally breaks her arm to get prescription painkillers that her boyfriend wants.
"I think she loves her honey," she said, but added that in the same situation she wouldn't do the same thing. She doesn't know of anyone personally who has struggled with prescription drug addiction, but she has heard about it and thinks the play will help people. "Don't take prescription drug pills unless you really need them," she said.
Another Elsipogtog student, Nelson Augustine, plays "Wayne."
"He's a drug addict trying to stop," Augustine explained. He added that his character "seems like a pretty decent guy" who is able to get rid of his drug problem.
He also said that prescription drug misuse is a "big problem," and that if he were a doctor he do things differently. "I would start trying to help people, make better physiotherapy and stuff," he said.
Danelle Johnson, in Grade 7 at Elsipogtog, is a member of the chorus. She said she's looking forward to the working on the play.
"I think it's really cool the way they're trying to stop people using the drugs. It's awesome. The play's going to be awesome."
She added she has been meeting some new people, and is enjoying working with Eel Ground. "I want to stay here!" she said.
Ward said that the members of both drama clubs are really excited to be working on the play, especially about taking it to Dramafest in the spring.
"Most of these kids are new to the drama festival," he said. "This is my third or fourth year going. It was, for me, a real great experience, and the new kids will enjoy it as well."
Besides Dramafest, Bosma said the students will be putting on the play here at home, as well. They will be ready to present by the end of April, and they're hoping to do shows at Miramichi Valley High School and Bonar Law, and possibly a dinner theatre at Dr. Losier Middle School.
Getting the play ready will be a big effort on the part of the students, Bosma said. There are a lot of lines to memorize, and one character, "Grandfather," also has to learn a speech in Mi'kmaq.
The students have to come to practice every week, and keep up their marks, good behavior and attendance at school. Academics come first, and if the actors aren't willing to do the work, Bosma said, they can be replaced. There are lots of other drama club members who would be happy to have a bigger part.
"Everybody who didn't get a major speaking part is there for me," Bosma explained. "In two weeks' time we'll see where everybody is."
He added, though, that being in the drama club has helped a lot of students to improve their marks in school. Many youngsters who have trouble with reading learn new skills through drama that they carry over to class, and students whose attendance or behavior has not been good in the past often shape up in order to stay in the club.
"I've seen improvement in several cases," he said.
Bosma explained he didn't pick the topic for this play, but he felt prescription drug misuse was something that needed to be addressed.
"I guess it was time," he said.
He usually gets his topic from "the producers" — usually the school's principal — and he said any topic can be made into a play. The club usually does a comedy in the fall and a serious play for Dramafest, and in past years they have tackled topics like fetal alcohol syndrome and youth suicide. Like his students, he believes the presentations help get important messages out to the community.
"You have power when you're in a play," Bosma told the youngsters. "And you do affect people."
+++++++++++
From: Peter MacDonald [mailto:mr.mac63@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, February 21, 2009 1:49 AM
Subject: Hi Brian !
It is awesome Brian seeing the two schools working together. Bosma is an awesome guy who has taken the kids to a new level.
Our grade 8 teacher has the kids here studying the "Mary Moses Play." I got them scripts and they watched the movie. They sent John their opinions and questions on the play and he responded to them. They were very excited to get his response. So First Nation drama is now being studied in Asia.:----) I attached to responses.
It is something that many of the First Nation schools could be doing in Middle and High school across Canada. There will be four plays out and recorded from Eel Ground in the past years and I am sure there are many more across the country. All relevant topics too .
Great hearing from you !
Here is John Bosma's email if you ever have the need to get ahold of him.
bosmajo@hotmail.com
Talk to you later, Brian,
Peter
+++++++++++