"Sky Dancers Perform at EPCOT Centre"

OHSWEKEN - The next time the Jim Sky Iroquois Dancers need money, they won't ask the provincial government.

The troupe of 30 native dancers from Six Nations is performing in the International Festival Program at EPCOT Centre, part of Walt Disney World in Florida, today through Monday - at its own expense.

The troupe, which has been performing traditional native dances all over North and South America and Europe since it was organized in 1946, was invited in recognition of Canada Month at Disney World.

However, EPCOT Centre does not pay the expenses of groups that perform there, so Jim Sky and his wife Deanna, the organizers, applied to the Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Culture's Native Community Branch for funds.

Officials in both the main office in Toronto and the district office in London promised them funds last year, the Skys said. Because of this, they accepted the invitation to perform, but last month the government told the Skys that it would not help pay the cost

The troupe was therefore left with paying for the entire $21,000 cost of the seven-day trip.

"They (the government) said they were 'pretty sure' we would get some money because it is a citizenship and culture exchange," Mrs. Sky said before the troupe left. "If we had known about this, we would have done shows last month and saved the money."

Still, the Skys said they felt obligated to fulfill their commitment.

"I have worked our dance troupe name to a point where I don't want to disappoint anyone. It's 30 years of good standing down the drain if you say you can't go," Mr. Sky said.

Mr. Sky said he sees the dancers as ambassadors and teachers.

"We're representing Six Nations and Ontario," he said. "The reason I continue to do it is to educate the people, to get them away from history books that tell them we are savages, pagans and heathens. Our people should be telling our history."