Planet IndigenUs is About Us. Forced to Make a Stand and From Each Side of The Grand extended until October 30, 2011

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Planet IndigenUs is About Us. Forced to Make a Stand and From Each Side of The Grand extended until October 30, 2011"

Arleen McGee
5 years ago
Views:

1 October 2011 Edition What is Planet IndigenUs? We are all from somewhere, a place on this earth from where we trace our ancestors. Indigenous people trace ancestry back through time immemorial to places of origin; places where they are rooted; and places that brought forth a unique culture, language, spiritual framework and environment. Planet IndigenUs is About Us Forced to Make a Stand and From Each Side of The Grand extended until October 30, 2011 By popular demand Forced to Make a Stand and From Each Side of The Grand have been extended until October 30, 2011 at Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ont. Forced to Make a Stand is an art exhibition which coincides with From Each Side of the Grand an Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford, ON. exhibition looking at the land claim issues along the Grand River territory relating to the Haldimand Treaty of Forced to Make a Stand is a group exhibition featuring works of art that are protest pieces or political in nature relating to land claims and First Nation Rights. Group exhibition featuring works from: Rosaline Antone, Joe David, Patricia Deadman, Robert Frechette, Greg A. Hill, Peter B. Jones, Teresa Marshall, Alan Michelson, Nadya Myre, and Sheley Niro. For more information visit or phone Each person is his own judge. Shawnee

Saying it with Humour Exhibition by Bill Powless at Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford, Ont. Watch for the opening of Saying it with Humour, November 7, 2011 at 7pm.

2 Saying it with Humour Exhibition by Bill Powless at Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford, Ont. Watch for the opening of Saying it with Humour, November 7, 2011 at 7pm. A retrospective exhibition of the comedic and satirical view point of Six Nations artist Bill Powless, featuring his comics, paintings, photographs and drawings. For more information visit or phone Native Canadian Centre of Toronto New programme: Youth hand drumming for women (ages yrs) at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (NCCT) every Wednesday, 6-7pm. Youth hand drumming for men (ages yrs) at the NCCT every Tuesday, 6-7pm. Transportation provided. Contact Springwater at or springwater.meawassige@ncct.on.ca. Culture Days at the Native Centre: Traditional Aboriginal craft sale with free beading workshop and fundraising BBQ. Saturday, October 1, 10am-4pm. Free admission. Contact Sarena at or sarena.johnson@ncct.on.ca. Traditional Awareness Gathering Saturday, October 15, 7am - 9pm. Sunrise ceremony, breakfast, medicine teachings, fundraising BBQ, clan teachings, fire teachings, birthing teachings, potluck feast and community drum social. Adults $10, youth and seniors $5, children 12 and under free. Contact Walter at or walter.lindstone@ncct.on.ca. For more information visit

imaginenative Festival Lineup Featuring World Premieres, International Award Winners & Buffy Sainte-Marie 12th Annual imaginenative Film + Media Arts Festival October 19-23, 2011 The imaginenative

3 imaginenative Festival Lineup Featuring World Premieres, International Award Winners & Buffy Sainte-Marie 12th Annual imaginenative Film + Media Arts Festival October 19-23, 2011 The imaginenative Film + Media Arts Festival, the world s largest Indigenous film festival, celebrates its 12th year October 19-23, 2011 at the TIFF Bell Lightbox (TBLB, 350 King St. W) and various other venues in downtown Toronto. imaginenative celebrates new works by Indigenous people at the forefront of innovation in film, video, radio A Tribe Called Red Electric Pow Wow and new media. The Festival officially kicks off at 12pm on Wednesday, October 19 with its Welcome Gathering presented by the Thunderbird Centre at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (16 Spadina Road). FREE and open to the public, the reception features traditional Indigenous performances, including Tribal Vision, a family dance troupe from Six Nations, a welcoming song from Rosary Spence, craft vendors, food, and a welcome address from imaginenative in a casual, fun atmosphere. imaginenative s Opening Night screening presented by Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) features the Canadian Premiere of Andrew Okpeaha MacLean s internationally celebrated dramatic feature film On the Ice (USA) on Wednesday, October 19, 2011, 7pm at the Festival s new screening venue, TIFF Bell Lightbox. Winner of the Berlin International Film Festival s Best First Feature Award, On the Ice is set on the snow-covered Alaskan tundra where two teenaged

friends attempt to conceal a dark secret in this engrossing and suspenseful film.

Winning rave reviews for their Electric Pow Wow (a blend of traditional powwow and electronic music), the Ottawa-based DJ crew will present their full multimedia video and music performance for the

Closing the festival is the world premiere of Wapos Bay: Long Goodbyes (Canada) presented by Global Toronto, on October 23 at 7pm at the TBLB ($12/$10).

4 friends attempt to conceal a dark secret in this engrossing and suspenseful film. Opening night screening tickets for On the Ice are $12/$10 and include admission to the opening night party presented by Casino Rama featuring A Tribe Called Red. Winning rave reviews for their Electric Pow Wow (a blend of traditional powwow and electronic music), the Ottawa-based DJ crew will present their full multimedia video and music performance for the first time in Toronto at the opening night party at The Century Room (580 King St. W), doors open at 9pm. Closing the festival is the world premiere of Wapos Bay: Long Goodbyes (Canada) presented by Global Toronto, on October 23 at 7pm at the TBLB ($12/$10). Directed by Dennis Jackson, this full-length animated family film is based on the Gemini Award-winning animated TV series and features the voice talents of Lorne Cardinal (Corner Gas) and the late Gordon Tootoosis (Blackstone, Legends of the Fall), in whose memory the Closing Night Gala is Buffy Sainte-Marie dedicated. The legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie headlines imaginenative s popular music night The Beat presented by Slaight Music on October 22, 2011 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre ($20/$15) tickets are now on sale for this unforgettable performance. The festival also presents In Discussion with Buffy Sainte-Marie, a FREE panel held at 7pm October 21, 2011 at the TBLB. This year imaginenative shines its annual International Spotlight on the Khoi-San, the Indigenous People of South Africa, which features three programmes illustrating the diversity and creativity of contemporary Indigenous life in South Africa, as well as a unique video collaboration project between Canadian and South African Indigenous youth, premiering at The Beat. This year s programming also includes the long

5 overdue return of Samson & Delilah to Toronto s screens as part of the two-part special presentation: The World of Samson & Delilah. Featuring the Cannes Caméra d Or-winning film and its companion documentary Making Samson & Delilah, this presentation also includes a Master Class with Australian directors Warwick Thornton and Beck Cole, two of the world s most prominent Indigenous filmmakers. In total, 103 film and video works from Canada and around the world are presented at this year s imaginenative, including the world premiere of Mesnak (Canada), a contemporary adaptation of Hamlet set on a Quebec First Nation, the musical Bran Nue Dae (Australia), starring Oscar-winner Geoffrey Rush, Totem Impact (Canada), the Festival s first 3-D film, and the Canadian premieres of new works by internationally acclaimed filmmakers Kanakan Balintagos (Busong), Merata Mita (Saving Grace), and Ivan Sen (Shifting Shelter 4). This year imaginenative features 38 world premieres and 12 Canadian premieres and a festival total of 84 premieres. Five days of Indigenous film, video, radio, new media, entertainment and more! Please visit or phone for more info. Alaynee Goodwill Artist Spotlight Alaynee Goodwill Alaynee Goodwill, Dakota-Lakota Sioux from Standing Buffalo, Saskatchewan is a multi- talented artist, dancer, designer, and hand craft artist. Alaynee s artistic work includes Dakota-Lakota beadwork, designs, quill work and dance regalia. Alaynee blends her traditional techniques with contemporary concepts. Some of Alaynee s artwork has been featured at museums and art exhibitions including the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver. I only use the most traditional and authentic tools in constructing a piece, keeping true to my ancestors techniques and methods. For more information about Alaynee and her creations, visit

6 "Listen or your tongue will keep you deaf. Native American Proverb" Susuriwka Willow Bridge The Ainu/Mohawk Connection Susuriwka meaning willow bridge in the Ainu language crosses borders and connects two world established artists revealing Indigenous worldviews. Susuriwka Willow Wridge is an international Indigenous collaborative dance production co-produced by Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and the Photo Credit: Yoichi Tsukada Yokohama Arts Foundation. Led by awarding-winning Artistic Director Santee Smith of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Susuriwka Willow Bridge will be developed into a major evening of work, in partnership with Planet IndigenUs, Harbourfront Centre. The North American premiere of the full-scale work will take place at the Fleck Dance Theatre during Planet IndigenUs Acclaimed Indigenous choreographer Santee Smith (Canada) and one of the most recognized Ainu musicians OKI (Japan) collaboratively created a compelling new work depicting the symbolic bridges between cultures, humanity and spirit. The work incorporates Canadian and Japanese dance artists, musicians and designers. Setting cultural precedent in Japan, Susuriwka Willow Bridge acknowledged contemporary Ainu expression and artists. Japan now comes to Canada to continue this one-of-a-kind collaboration. Dancers bridge the cosmos through spiritual transformation to the haunting and energetic rhythms of the Tonkori based music. OKI has won international praise for creating new sounds by blending melodies of the Tonkori the traditional stringed instrument of the Sakhalin Ainu with other forms of music. Susurwika s score is riveting and original complemented by Smith s earth-bound, sensual and visually

7 Photo Credit: Yoichi Tsukada stunning choreography it makes for a dynamic display of living culture. A Planet IndigenUs international indigenous residency 2011 will connect artists Smith and OKI allowing them to build upon the vision and artistry of Susurikwa Willow Bridge. The RED Revue and The Writer's Room The RED Revue is a monthly social event aimed at the members of the Native/ Indigenous arts community that is designed for networking and socializing. It features a headlining musical act from within our target community and it also features an Open Arts Mic which is open to artists from any discipline to use as a forum for their work. The Open Arts Mic offers participants 15 minutes to do share their talent and is open to writers, poets, visual artists, choreographers, actors and film makers, etc. The Writer's Room is a monthly gathering of Native/Indigenous writers in the Toronto area and features a headlining author reading from his or her work after which the podium is opened up to other writers. This is a chance to network, listen and to learn about writing in an informal and social atmosphere. For more information, contact ANDPVA Executive Writers Assistant Leslie McCue at (416) ex: 101 or visit or their Facebook page at

Harbourfront Centre and Planet IndigenUs Welcome Marc Meriläinen, Artistic Associate The man behind the music is Marc Meriläinen (formerly Nadjiwan).

8 Harbourfront Centre and Planet IndigenUs Welcome Marc Meriläinen, Artistic Associate The man behind the music is Marc Meriläinen (formerly Nadjiwan). Born in northern Manitoba and raised in the untamed beauty of Northwestern Ontario, Marc knew from an early age he would perform music. Marc went on to achieve much success in both Canada and the United States with the NADJIWAN project. Releasing four records from 1995 to 2008, Marc quickly generated great reviews and found his way onto many radio playlists on both sides of the border including various nominations for Canadian Aboriginal Music and Native American Music Awards. Marc's releases have also made their way to the number one spot on various Aboriginal music charts. In addition to releasing his own original music, Marc has composed scores for theatre and television. His work on the production Agokwe earned him a Dora Award Nomination in 2009 for Best Original Composition. Some of the other theatre productions Marc has worked on include; New World Brave, Coyote City and Artifacts. Marc has also provided music and scores for CBC, CTV and APTN. Last February Marc performed at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, at Ontario House representing artists from Ontario. In Marc's new project he is exploring his Finnish side utilizing traditional Finnish folk instruments and modern beats. The first single from this release is now in the National Aboriginal Top 10 Countdown.

9 We've got a new page! Like us on Facebook. Thank you Harbourfront Centre Sponsors

REEL CANADA Brings Beyond 150 Years: An Acknowledgement of Cinematic Territory to Vancouver from March 5 th to 7 th

REEL CANADA Brings Beyond 150 Years: An Acknowledgement of Cinematic Territory to Vancouver from March 5 th to 7 th The event celebrating Indigenous filmmakers across Canada is presented in advance of