Joni Mitchell wants no part of Saskatoon tribute

Joni Mitchell says she doesn't want anything to do with a museum or tributein her hometown of Saskatoon. Thesinger-songwriter is reportedly fed up that plans to honour her musical legacy in the city have fallen through, partially due to financial constraints.

Mitchell spoke candidly about the city where she spent her teenage years inan article published in the Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Her comments come after a localgroup has informally tried to come up with ideas, once again,to honour the singer.

Jeremy Warren, the StarPhoenix reporter who spoke with her, said she thought the city failed to honour her.

'Saskatoon has always been an extremely bigoted community.' Joni Mitchell

"They had all these plans cultural centres, the Joni Mitchell cafe and a statue and all these things," Warren said."She was kind of fed up."

At one point, there was a museum proposed to recognize her work. Mitchell had suggested it have aFirst Nations component. The idea eventually fell through.

"I feel that it's very isolated, very unworldly, and doesn't grasp the idea of honourThere are so many things I want to do, that I should be doing, without getting sidetracked into these dubious and eventually nonexistent honours," she said in an interview with the Saskatoon Star-Phoenix.

"Saskatoon has always been an extremely bigoted community. It's like the deep south, and the museum was one thing I thought would be beneficial for people."

Mitchell wants mementos returned

Joni Mitchell left Saskatoon more than four decades ago. But herparents stayed in the citylong after she left. When they moved into a care home, much of her personal memorabilia went into storage.

These include homemade dresses and scrapbooks compiled by her mother.A friend of Mitchell'shasbeen holding them in storage for her in Saskatoon.

'There's no use getting agitatedabout this particular opinion that she has.' Lorne Calvert

ButMitchell, who lives in California,said she wants her belongings returned.

"She wasn't angry or ranting," Warren said. "She definitely wasn't soft spoken. She just matter of factly said, 'I just want my stuff back.'"

Former Saskatchewan premier Lorne Calvert part of the group looking to honour Mitchell says they'll go ahead with their plans for something to commemorate her time in the city evenwithout the singer'sinvolvement.

"There's no use getting agitatedabout this particular opinion that she has," Calverttells CBC.

"Again, I think it's wrong I'm sure it's wrong but that's it. It doesn't change the fact that, from this community, from this Prairie soil, arose this great creative mind and spirit who continues to create."

The boxes of personal memorabilia are ready to be moved to her westcoasthome, he added.