Mixed contestant on Canadian idol
JC
The Peace River Record Gazette takes a look at one of the contestants that made the top 200 cut of singers for Canadian Idol. Sheldon Elter talks about how he charmed the judges and how being mixed/metis can be hard for an entertainer…
Elter, who is Métis, has a strong background in the performing arts….He also wrote his own one-man play, Métis Mutt, that toured New Zealand and other places with The Edge Theatre. “It’s often thought of as a coming of age story … when you realize you can no longer blame your parents or your upbringing,” he said of the play. The play revolves around his experience as a child with an abusive father. He plays a variety of family members and how he saw their roles in the family. Many of the jokes are hard-hitting and force the audience to take a long look at the meaning of being Métis. “I wanted to be really edgy,” he said.
It also looks at the uniquely Métis experience of sometimes not being accepted by either their European or Native relatives. Elter said he came close to getting a role in the Steven Spielberg mini-series, Into the West. But once again the mixed heritage of his Métis background raised a barrier. “They said I was too white to play an Indian and too Indian to play a white,” he said. “In film and television that’s sort of been my downfall, they can’t quite figure out my look.”
Elter, lots of other actors and actresses feel you on this. Keep on truckin’! 
Kristin, Editor RedWAY BC News wrote:
Hi Mixed Media Watch team from Vancouver, BC!
Greetings from your northern neighbors. Thanks for including Sheldon’s story on your site - we have an article coming up on Sheldon, too! I’ll be putting links to your article in the next issue of RedWAY BC News and encouraging our readers to check out your site and vote for your nominated podcast.
Our e-zine is a free publication that supports Urban Aboriginal Youth living in or moving into city centres in BC. Check it out… our goal is to promote the positive side of Native people of Turtle Island (North America) - whether they go by the “labels” Native, First Peoples, Indigenous Canadians, Inuit, NDN, mixed/Métis, Native American, Indian, Aboriginal, First Nations or whatever…the idea is to profile Aboriginal individuals and businesses, highlight the successful programs and initiatives, honour the diversity of cultures, and provide a professional template for their stories and dreams to reach across the world.
I’m glad to find many Canadians are working to learn about the true history of Canada to build a sustainable, innovative future. I’m learning daily about the impact of colonization and the residential school systems, the dysfunction of the imposed “reserves” and challenges of land claims… injustices about which most of us previously were ignorant (or simply injustices we chose to ignore) regarding the First Peoples of North America. A lot of healing, recognition and trust-building needs to be done so that we can all work to a more respectful future that embraces and celebrates the diversity of people.
In honour and respect,
Kristin, K. Editor of RedWAY BC News
Harnessing Technology to Inform, Honour and Connect Urban Aboriginal Youth to Services, Opportunities, the Community and Each Other
Posted 04 Jul 2006 at 1:26 pm ¶