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In 1876, the Canadian parliament passed the Indian Act, a sweeping piece of legislation that still dictates how the government interacts with the First Nations bands indigenous to the country and legally defines Indian status and band membership. Though heavily amended over the years, the Indian Act initially included policies that disenfranchised Indigenous women who married outside their band, stripping them and their children of Indian status and restricting their access to native communities and traditional land.…Read More

Chicago “frog rock” four-piece Floatie talk about the lost year of COVID, finding inspiration in adventure novels, and their complicated but congenial songs.

Longtime friends make the best bandmates.…Read More

The Infinite Wrench marks an anniversary in shutdown; plus Refugee Rhapsody wins the Blue Ink Playwriting Award.

When the shutdown hit a year ago, the Neo-Futurists were one of the earliest to adapt to creating digital theater. Within days of the stay-at-home order, they were figuring out how to convert their signature late-night hit, The Infinite Wrench (itself born out of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, the original “30 plays in 60 minutes” show that was reimagined after founder Greg Allen pulled the rights) into an ongoing offering on Patreon.…Read More

Time with family. Sewing masks for others. A border collie named Willow. Board games. Prayer. A husband who makes wine. Those are just some of the things Chicagoans told us.

We asked readers: What’s one thing that’s really gotten you through the pandemic year?

Here’s what we heard. Some answers have been condensed and lightly edited for clarity.

“Gratitude. Celebrating the small joys that we often overlook due to the design of our fast-paced lifestyles.” — Baida Qureshi Torres

“Sewing thousands of masks and overhauling a house. Having a good partner helps a lot, too.” — Madeline Page Hunter Dittmer

“Normal times before COVID days, everyone was busy. You spent little time with your family. Spending time together as a family really lets you see the smile on your children’s faces, the love between you all — and the moments you missed because life got too busy. I think many realized it’s time to slow down and be with your family.” — Shawn Ravn

“Adding a new puppy. He’s keeping me busy.” — Cynthia Pau Arellano

“A whole lot of avocados, fantastic salsa and movie time with the kids.” — Robert Lisowski

“My crafts! They kept me busy, my mind off worrying. And I got some cute things in the process, which I gave away.” — Brenda Morajka

“Playing ‘The Sims’ for hours at a time.” — Sarah Thomas

“Buying records and books. Also having my best friend — my wife — by my side.” — Steve Zooski

“Being an essential worker with a medical linen company. My faith and power of prayer. We prayed every morning before hitting the hospitals. It got us through the year.” — Mike Kaufman

“I was considered an essential worker from the start, and it kept me very busy. Additionally, spending time with my wife, who is also my best friend. And lots and lots of cable television.” — Michael Thompson

“Kindle — unlimited subscription. Zoom. FaceTime. And lots of prayers.” — Brenda G. Whitson Marquis

“The fact my family is close, and we put away the cell phones and computers to play board games and enjoy each other’s company.” — Lisa Varga

“My music and exercising without going to the gym.” — Victoria L. Green

“Gratitude, my mother, streaming, books, wine and retirement.” — Denise Washington

“Definitely my faith. Knowing that when I thought I couldn’t handle all the garbage the world was throwing at me, God was telling me He had the stuff I couldn’t handle. To keep moving forward and the assurance that this, too, will pass.” — Bill Pionke

“Gratitude, prayer, meditation, laughter, sunshine, flowers, love, music, family.” — Amy Geinosky

“Playing guitar and writing songs.” — Staci L. Grisby

“A border collie named Willow!” — Kalli Ricka

“The Facebook group ‘View from my Window.’ Members from all over the world share photos from their windows. I have learned so much and felt so connected to people all over, and my cabin fever has been kept at bay.” — Julie MacCarthy

“Honestly, binge-watching shows from other countries on Netflix. There is a lot of very good stuff being streamed if you just move outside of your ‘American’ comfort zone and watch what other countries have to offer, especially Spain and Turkey. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.” — Gerald Myers

“Working entirely within the performing arts industry, and having 100% of my livelihood upended (for a year now), I finally recorded and released my debut solo album and am in the process of completing the follow-up.” — Christopher Peifer

“Fishing. Towards the end of last summer, I went to northern Wisconsin and caught bass on five different lakes and pike on two of them.” — Bradley Nawara

“Walking trails in neighborhood parks.” — Bridget Cortez

“Zoom calls with my 3-year-old grandson who lives in New York state. I send him books and beanies from my collection. They send me videos of him opening them. I have had both vaccinations. When they get theirs, I will visit them. I can’t wait!!” — Jan Berg

“Power-walking outside and Zoom family game nights.” — Cathy Rausch Blanton

“Nostalgia and reconnecting with friends.” — Michael R. Butz

“Reaching out to friends and relatives.” — Lynn Lehmann Funk

“Well, my husband makes wine — need I say more?” — Wanda Freeman

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Uplifting movie blends the singer’s dramatic life story, of abuse and struggle and triumphant comeback, with knockout performance clips.

We know the Tina Turner story through Turner’s bestselling autobiography “I, Tina” and the Angela Bassett-starring “What’s Love Got to Do With It?” from 1993 and the Broadway jukebox musical “TINA — The Tina Turner Musical” and countless print and broadcast profiles — and yet there’s something fresh and timely and inspiring and uplifting about the new documentary titled simply “Tina,” premiering Saturday on HBO and HBO Max.

Oscar-winning directors Daniel Lindsay and T.J. Martin (“The Undefeated”) revisit Tina’s life story, from her humble beginnings to her commercially successful but personally devastating partnership with Ike Turner to her incredible reinvention and rise to global superstar at an age when most rock singers are cruising along on Greatest Hits tours. The result is a documentary with more dramatic swings, more triumphs and setbacks, more insanely entertaining performance clips than most fictionalized biopics.

Through a treasure trove of archival footage, interviews with former backup singers and songwriters and other associates of Tina’s, as well as a series of interviews filmed with Turner (who is now 81) at her Shangri-La-esque chateau in Zurich, “Tina” is must-see for longtime fans and, perhaps more important, millennials who might not grasp just how much of an influence Tina Turner has been on generations of performers — regardless of gender. (After all, as the film reminds us, it was a young Tina Turner who demonstrated some killer dance moves to a young Mick Jagger.)

The first half of the film focuses on Turner’s upbringing and her years in the 1960s and 1970s with husband Ike, as the Ike & Tina review scored hits with breakthrough soul/rock originals such as “River Deep, Mountain High” and “Nutbush City Limits” as well as brilliant re-interpretations on covers of “Come Together” and “Proud Mary.” We see classic footage of Tina and her backup singer-dancers (known as “The Ikettes” — Ike really liked to keep his name upfront) lighting up the stage in concert and TV appearances.

Rhonda Graam/HBO

In public, Ike was the taciturn, rock-solid band leader, while Tina was the shining star who was equally charismatic and friendly onstage and off — but behind closed doors, Ike was a horrific monster who verbally and physically abused Tina, giving her black eyes and third-degree burns, making her feel so miserable and trapped she attempted suicide. As Ike’s drug abuse in the 1970s made him even more of a living nightmare, Tina found the courage to leave him, showing up at a motel with nothing but a Mobil credit card. The next day, she got on a plane and never looked back.

The filmmakers play audio excerpts from Turner’s 1981 interview with People magazine, in which she bravely detailed the abuse she had endured at time when domestic abuse was largely swept under the rug. (Even the magazine downplayed the stunning story. Johnny Carson was on the cover of that week’s issue, and the cover tagline for the Turner interview was: “Tina Turner: on the prowl without Ike.”) For years afterward, TV interviewers would ask her, “Where’s Ike?” and Turner finally published “I, Tina” in part to put a stop to the constant questions about her past.

All of this is a necessary and vitally important part of the Tina Turner story, but the documentary soars in the second half, as we follow Tina’s ascension to superstardom, starting with the 1984 album “Private Dancer,” which was hardly the most anticipated work of the year (we’re told one executive at Capitol Records didn’t think the 42-year-old Turner had any remaining commercial value and referred to her in the vilest of terms) but sold more than 10 million copies worldwide.

HBO

In one of the film’s most entertaining vignettes, we learn the story behind the story of “What’s Love Got To Do With?”, which was originally a sappy, soulless, bubble-gum pop tune recorded by a lily-white Abba-wannabe group called Bucks Fizz — but Tina got in the studio and made it her own, resulting in a No. 1 single. When Tina takes the stage in a 1980s concert and sings “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” in front of a massive crowd that knows every word and feels every note of the song, it’s a beautifully triumphant moment.

Some 30 years later, we catch up with Tina at the home in Zurich she shares with her husband, the German music producer Erwin Bach. She sounds content and happy and at peace, and it’s just the sort of lovely epilogue Tina Turner deserves.

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Ten people were shot, two fatally, Wednesday in Chicago including a 31-year-old man was killed in a drive-by shooting Wednesday in Gresham on the South Side.

About 1:25 p.m., he was standing in an alley in the 8400 block of South Morgan Street, when a light-colored vehicle pulled up and someone from inside fired shots, Chicago police said. The man suffered several gunshot wounds to his body and was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead.

A person was fatally shot Wednesday morning in Englewood on the South Side. Officers responded to a report of gunfire about 1:15 a.m. and found a male with gunshot wounds to his head and face in the 7200 block of South Paulina Street, police said in a statement. The unresponsive male was rushed to Holy Cross Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

In non-fatal shootings, a woman was critically wounded in a shooting in Cragin on the Northwest Side. The woman, 37, was shot by someone in a dark-colored SUV about 8:40 p.m. while riding in a vehicle in the 5300 block of West Wrightwood Avenue, police said. She was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center with a gunshot wound to her head, and was listed in critical condition.

Two people were shot in Brainerd on the South Side. Someone in a dark-colored vehicle drove up and fired shots at the pair after an argument about 5:05 p.m. in the 9200 block of South May Street, police said. One man, 20, was struck in the ankle and taken to Little Company of Mary Hospital in good condition. The other man, 19, was grazed on the back and thigh and taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was also in good condition.

A 23-year-old man was shot in Logan Square on the Northwest Side. He was standing on the sidewalk about 3:15 p.m. in the 3200 block of West Altgeld Street when a vehicle pulled up and someone fired shots from inside, police said. The man was shot in the hand and taken to Norwegian American Hospital in good condition.

About a half hour prior a man was shot in Englewood on the South Side. The man, 32, was shot in the leg about 2:40 p.m. in the 1300 block of West 71st Street, police said. He was taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center in good condition.

Less than an hour prior, a 25-year-old man was shot in his foot in Longwood Manor on the South Side. A light-colored vehicle pulled up about 2 p.m. and someone inside shot the man as he stood on a sidewalk in the 9600 block of South Harvard Avenue, police said. The man went to Roseland Community Hospital, where he was listed in good condition.

Two people were wounded in separate shootings at the same time, one in Fernwood on the Far South Side and the other in Austin on the West Side. A 22-year-old woman was shot about 4:10 a.m. while she argued with the boyfriend outside a home in the 10200 block of South Wentworth Avenue, police said. She took herself to Trinity Hospital, where she was listed fair condition. The man fled the scene before police arrived and was not in custody.

At the same time a 35-year-old man was shot as he was walking in the 1000 block of North Massasoit Avenue, police said. He was struck in the armpit and taken to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood in fair condition.

Five people were shot, one fatally, citywide Tuesday.

Read more on crime, and track the city’s homicides.

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A man was fatally shot Wednesday night by police in west suburban Forest Park, according to Forest Park police.

About 7:50 p.m., officers received calls of a man who dropped a pistol on the floor of a Jimmy Johns at 350 Circle Ave., according to a statement from police. Witnesses told police the man was waving the gun around saying, “Please don’t make me do this now.”

The man then walked outside the restaurant and stood with the pistol in his hand, and when officers arrived at the scene shots were fired, police said. The man was placed into custody and rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The pistol was recovered, police said. The officers involved were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

It is not known if any officer was struck by gunfire.

The shooting will be investigated by the Illinois State Police Public Integrity Task Force.

This is a developing story, check back for details.

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A 30-year-old man has been charged with a February 2020 shooting in Washington Park on the South Side.

Aaron Harrington, of Jeffery Manor, was charged with a felony count of aggravated battery with a firearm, a felony count of aggravated assault with a firearm, and a felony count of reckless discharge of a firearm, Chicago police said.

About 5:10 a.m. February 22, 2020, a 29-year-old man was walking into a building in the 6200 block of South Michigan Avenue, when another man saw him, pulled out a gun and fired two shots, according to police.

He was hit once in the lower back and taken to the University of Chicago Medical Center, police said. His condition was stabilized.

Harrington was arrested at his home Tuesday in the 9600 block of South Hoxie Avenue, after being identified by police as the person who allegedly fired shots, police said.

He is due in bond court Thursday.

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Moon Alert

Caution: Avoid shopping or making important decisions from 8 a.m. to 10:45 p.m. Chicago time. After that, the moon moves from Leo into Virgo.

Aries (March 21-April 19)

This is fantastic day to have fun! Enjoy playful activities with kids. Grab every opportunity to express your creative talents. Schmooze and socialize with dear friends; however, restrict spending to food and gas. (See moon alert.)

Taurus (April 20-May 20)

This is a feel-good day even though you might want to cocoon at home. (Conversely, some of you will want to entertain at home.) Whatever you do, you will be inclined to do it big. “Fresh horses and more whiskey for my men!” Check moon alert.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)

You feel friendly and eager to talk to others. (Avoid making promises you can’t deliver because you will be inclined to do this today.) Enjoy creative activities and fun times but restrict your spending to food and gas. (See moon alert.)

Cancer (June 21-July 22)

Caution: Most of today is a moon alert, which means it’s a poor day to buy anything other than food. (Or gas.) However, you will be tempted to shop and be extravagant! This is a dangerous combo. Protect yourself and save your money.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)

The moon is in your sign, which gives you a bit of extra luck. However, it is a moon alert today. (See above.) Therefore, avoid important decisions. Don’t volunteer for anything. Do not shop (except for food.) Enjoy schmoozing and expressing your creative talents.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)

Today is a moon alert, which is a poor time to make important decisions or to initiate anything. It’s also a poor time to shop for anything other than food. Actually, this will suit you fine because you prefer to keep a low profile. Perfect!

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)

You will enjoy good times with friends or groups. People are sociable, which is why they’re glad to see your face. In terms of spending money — be careful. Today is a moon alert almost all day, which means restrict spending to food and entertainment. Forewarned is forearmed.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)

This is a tricky day because most of this day is a moon alert, which means avoid important decisions. Don’t volunteer for anything. Don’t spend money except for food (and entertainment). Meanwhile, you are high visibility. People notice you. Deal with this as best you can.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)

This is a playful week and today is a playful day. Enjoy sports events, social activities, fun times with children and romantic tete-a-tetes. Be aware of the restrictions of the moon alert. Restrict spending to food and entertaining diversions. Very creative day for you!

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)

Please be careful. Use restraint because today is a moon alert, which means don’t spend money on anything other than food, gas and entertainment. It’s a poor day for important decisions or to volunteer for something. Note: This particular moon alert highlights both your money houses!

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)

You might be tempted to go overboard in some way, especially related to your health, or a pet, or something to do with your job. Definitely restrict spending to food, gas and entertainment because almost all of this day is a moon alert. Forewarned is forearmed.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)

Because you are involved with close friends and partners, you might want to please them. You might feel you need to agree or volunteer for something. However, today is a moon alert, which means restrict spending to food and don’t agree to anything important.

If Your Birthday Is Today

Actress Sarah Jessica Parker (1965) shares your birthdayoro0325. You are playful and high spirited! You can be blunt. Your sharp mind makes you an excellent debater. Service to others will be an important theme for you this year, especially within your family. Therefore, take care of yourself so that you can be a strong resource. Meanwhile, decide to invest in the relationships that you value. Hang out with quality people.

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