|
|
|
ROLE MODEL |
|
|
Written by FRANK PEEBLES
Citizen staff
|
|
Sunday, 28 December 2008 |
Christine Charlie, one of the models featured in the BT Girls calendar, lives on the Stellako Reserve at Fraser Lake. (Submitted photo)
The BT initials have a double meaning, standing both for Baker Twins (the famous Canadian models/actors who happen to come from Fraser Lake) and for Beautiful and Talented, their movement to promote positive aboriginal women. Their calendar features hand-picked women they believe to be role models in their home communities and for all young, aboriginal people across North America.
Among the 12 women from Canada and the U.S. the Bakers spotlighted in the calendar are Charlie and Ketlo, who both reside in the Central Interior. Charlie lives on the Stellako Reserve at Fraser Lake and is a member of the Stellat'en First Nation while Ketlo is from the Nadleh Whut'en Band in Fort Fraser.
"Shannon and I both wanted a couple of girls from around our area," said Shauna Baker. "People don't realize that we have a lot of beauty from our home town, but we picked those particular two because Tamara is a welder for a living and Christine is a fisheries technician. They are both living healthy lives, they are bright and good people, they are perfect for role modelling those values. I remember when we were young, we were encouraged by society to live inside the box, live in your comfort zone, pursue the most realistic things, but you can achieve so much more if you get out in the world and see the opportunities and reach for your dreams."
This attitude has made the Bakers into some of the most famous models on any runway in the world. They have been featured on the Tyra Banks Show, an episode of Smallville, and the first three months of 2009 has them skipping between Los Angeles, Singapore, Thailand and Vancouver for television, movie and modelling projects.
"They actually live just down the street from me," said Charlie, acknowledging that the Bakers were some of those role models in her own life. "They are a few years older. We had a few classes together in school: drama and band and photography. I knew them pretty well considering I was a bit younger so our friends were in different circles, but we grew closer as we got older."
It wasn't a modelling or an acting career that Charlie chose, it was a profession in the place she loved the most: the great outdoors. She went to Malaspina University and got certificates in for fisheries technologist and environmental monitoring. She is near completion on a whitewater rafting guide certification, and she has plans for more post-secondary education. She knows these pursuits were what caught the attention of her childhood acquaintances when she applied online to be in the mentorship calendar.
"I feel the same way, very strongly (about realistic aboriginal imaging)," Charlie, 23, told The Citizen. "I think the calendar will inspire young women, and young aboriginal women - that there is a huge horizon of opportunities in life. It feels great to be a role model for aboriginal youth. It is important to know people in your community you can look up to, just as I look up to (the Bakers) for all they have accomplished in their young lives."
Charlie and Ketlo are a one-two punch in the Central Interior. Ketlo's boyfriend is Charlie's brother, so the two know each other well. They happened to be together in Vancouver earlier in the year when the Bakers gave them a bonus. The famous twins were the stars of a photo shoot for Artifaax Clothing while Ketlo was in town for her calendar photo shoot, fellow BT Girl Madeline McCallum was available, and coincidentally Charlie was there for a conference. The Bakers brought them all in on the glamourous apparel shoot with them.
The conference was unrelated to being a BT Girl, but it was directly related to Charlie's character and emerging leadership role. It was an aboriginal education symposium and she was a guest speaker.
"I spoke about the certificates I've obtained and how those are stepping stones to where I want to go in life, and how education is the path to where you want to go in life," she said. "I was nervous. There was over 850 people there, but I didn't stutter, I got through it well."
She is getting through the jitters of being a pin-up girl as well, albeit a positive, holistic one not the kind for whom that term usually applies. She said it was a strange but fun feeling to walk into offices in her home town and see her calendar page tacked onto the wall even though her image isn't due until next October.
"Tamara and I were really stoked when we got our copies. We were amazed how the final photos turned out," Charlie said.
They encourage people to go pick up their own copies for 2009 and support a local venture aimed at building local community. It is available in Prince George at Kumbayaz Native Arts and Angelique's Native Arts.
 |
|
Last Updated ( Sunday, 28 December 2008 )
|
|
|
Who's Online
We have 123 guests and 4 members online
|
Subscribe to this comment's feed
