Friday, June 2, 2023

'The Urbarginal' takes Rudy Kelly's journey and remembrances to the national stage



Journalist, actor, novelist and now a podcaster, the journey for Rudy Kelly continues forward and the spotlight now turns to the national stage with the debut of a project over a year in the making.

The Urbariginal has debuted as part of CBC Radio's Podcast project, the six episode series one that was taken on by Mr. Kelly through the Daybreak North Studios, with Daybreak North host Carolina de Ryk along for the creative process.

The line up of episodes for the six part CBC Listen podcast
'The Urbariginal'
(click to enlarge)

Long in the local spotlight for the range of his talents and sense of community,  we noted of his latest project back in June of 2022, when the genesis of the larger podcast project was delivered through a month long event at the Prince Rupert Library.

Mr. Kelly and Ms. de Ryk provided a short overview of the project with a piece this past week on Daybreak North, recounting the day that the CBC Radio morning show host pitched the podcast idea over a cup of coffee and how the project evolved from that point forward.

Their conversation provides a look at what themes and how the scope of the conversations with elders and others in communities along the North Coast shaped the narrative for their work. 

As well as how the road towards the finish line for the work provided for a reflection of his life with his father and how the local region became part of the journey.



It takes skill, knowledge and patience to compile the material required for a project of this scope, one that shares a message with an audience.  

But it also requires a fair bit of courage to lay out your own travels as the main narrative. 

The six episode podcast offers a unique view of North Coast life that many of us likely only have scattered memories to call on, or anecdotal knowledge of.

Asked by Ms. de Ryk as to who the podcast is designed for, the answer provides a snapshot of the focus for the project and some of the personal remembrances that it will deliver.

"I think its for, its kind of for all Indigenous people, but certainly for other Urbariginal's like me, Who have been raised in a mostly urban setting but don't know much about their culture. And as everyone knows, even outsiders that aren't Indigenous, there's quite a divide on and off reserve.

They look at you as you know being a sell out right? Me working in, within you know White organization like the city and saying. ah you're just a token, I actually got called that. 

Most people congratulated me for that job, being a first Director in the City of Prince Rupert.  
But also I got a lot of yeah you're just a token, they needed a brown face because such was the times" --Rudy Kelly on the Urbariginal

It's an impressive list of accomplishments to date and As Ms. de Ryk notes as she wraps up the interview this week:  Storyteller is also something to now add to add to his resume.

You can Tavel along with Kelly and de Ryk from this link to the Urbariginal spot on the CBC Listen portal 

The Urbarignal is also available on other podcasting platforms, so check your listings to see if yours is among them.

A look at more media themes from the Northwest is available through our archive page

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