August 2011 issue 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 After a long and exhaustive search, I am very pleased to announce that Jerry Longboat has been appointed as Co- Artistic Director of Planet IndigenUs festival . Jerry Longboat is Mohawk- Cayuga of the Iroquois Confederacy; he is Turtle clan from Six Nations of the Grand River in Southern Ontario. Jerry Jerry Longboat has a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Michigan and the Ontario College of Art and Design. He has extensive professional training and practice in traditional and contemporary forms of visual art, dance, theatre and storytelling. Jerry creates from the oral traditions of his people; history, teachings and stories. In 2002, after a 15 year artistic career, Jerry began work as a Program Officer at the Canada Council for the Arts, working with Aboriginal dancers and dance organizations across Canada. Then in 2010, Jerry joined the Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health as Cultural Coordinator to deepen his work with community. He is very excited to bring his passion for nurturing the rich, cultural and artistic legacies of First Peoples to the Planet Indigenous Festival. Jerry will be relocating from Ottawa and will join the Harbourfront Centre team on August 22, 2011. He will work with Janis Monture, the amazing Executive Director of the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford (our Planet IndigenUs producing partner) who is Co-Artistic Director for 2012, and served as AD for the 2009 festival. By Melanie Fernandez, Director, Community & Educational Programmer, Harbourfront Centre.
June 2011 National Aboriginal History Month
On Friday, June 17, 2011, a Planet IndigenUs festival information booth was displayed to celebrate National Aboriginal History Month at Toronto City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square’s annual National Aboriginal History month celebration day. The Planet IndigenUs festival information booth included our new Planet IndigenUs banner, brochures, Planet IndigenUs festival information booth celebrates with City of Toronto’s National and seasonal issues of the Planet Aboriginal History Month celebration day IndigenUs newsletters. The outdoor event was successful and many visitors enjoyed the sunny and warm weather. Aboriginal arts and craft booths and entertainment were for all to enjoy. Planet IndigenUs is proud to share and support Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal celebrations throughout the community and beyond. Visitors are welcome to sign up for the seasonal Planet IndigenUs newsletters at http://newsletters.harbourfrontcentre.com/?p=subscribe&id=22. Issues continue to be shared four times a year in the spring, summer, fall and winter seasons. So sign up today and keep in the loop!
"Leadership is a call to duty, not an elevation to power". - Late Gordon Tootoosis, Poundmaker Cree Nation.
South Bay, Manitoulin Island Traditional Pow Wow, June 18-19, 2011 Flashback The community of South Bay hosted this year’s Traditional Pow Wow on behalf of the Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve on Manitoulin Island. The community celebrated their pride on a beautiful, sunny and warm weekend on June 18-19, 2011. The celebration saw seven singing groups and 145 dancers registered and an estimate of 1,000 visitors from neighbouring communities as far as Germany and the East Indies.
Special guests for the weekend was Miss Wawaskinaga Princess, Megan Jackson, dances with her jingle dress at the 2011 South Bay Chippewa Travellers 2010 Canadian Traditional Pow Wow Aboriginal Music Award winners and 2010
Pow Wow Idol winners. Special honouring
was bestowed to two local men who
served in Afghanistan, Ian Trudeau and Daniel Trudeau. Befitting the theme this
year was, "Passing on the Traditions to
our Youth." Local elders Shirley Williams Dancers celebrating their Aboriginal culture for all to enjoy Pheasant and Bea Shawanda provided teaching lodges. Miigwech to all that made this year’s celebration an Chris enlightening experience for all. By Chris Pheasant Pheasant, South Bay Traditional Pow Wow 2011 Coordinator.
Native Canadian Centre of Toronto Celebrates National Aboriginal Day at Yonge-Dundas Square, Toronto On Tuesday, June 21, 2011, the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto hosted their annual National Aboriginal Day Celebration at Yonge-Dundas Square, downtown Toronto. Aboriginal and non- Aboriginal community members and visitors gathered together to celebrate this occasion together. The festival included Aboriginal arts and craft vendors and live entertainment. Aboriginal artists included traditional dancing, Métis Fiddler Quartet, Crystal Shawanda hand drum singers, Rosary Spence and Marie Gaudet, rap group, Seven Fires, a fashion show by Native Talent’s Charm City fashions and more. To top off the evening was a performance by country singer, Crystal Shawanda and the 9pm lighting of the CN Tower with the traditional Medicine Wheel colors of red, white, yellow and blue (black).
Cheyney Redsky, Marketing and Advertising Metis Fiddler Quartet professional, Toronto
“Our first teacher is our own heart.”
- Cheyenne
Artist Spotlight- Carol Melting Tallow
Carol Melting Tallow, fast, fierce and fancy
Carol Melting Tallow, Blackfeet Nation from Standoff, Alberta, is a multi-talented dancer, designer and entrepreneur. Ms. Melting Tallow graduated from Lethbridge College with a degree in fashion design and marketing. As a proud graduate and First Nation designer, she later launched her own online fashion design business called Native Notions. To further her education in Native American fashion design, she studied at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Sante Fe, New Mexico. Melting Tallow has won several Women’s fancy shawl dance championships at Pow Wows throughout Canada and the United States. She also has been featuring her latest Native Notion design collections at fashion shows and has been appearing in more and more magazines. Visit Native Notions on Carol Melting Tallow’s Facebook page! “Everyone who is successful must have dreamed of something.” - Maricopa
Aboriginal Celebrations Calendar of Events August – September 2011
August 2-9, 2011 21st Annual Montreal First Peoples’ Festival, The Place des Festival. Full programming available at www.nativelynx.gc.ca. Information at IXION Communications 514- 278-4040 or email [email protected]
August 6-7, 2011 Listuguj 19th Annual Traditional Powwow Moffat’s Landing, Listuguj, Quebec 418-788-5707 or 506-753-9360 or email: [email protected] Male fancy dancer
August 11-14, 2011, 14th Annual John Arcand Fiddle Fest southwest of Saskatoon on the Pike Lake Hwy (#60) on John & Vicki’s acreage “Windy Acres”. 306-382-0111 Email: [email protected] or www.johnarcandfiddlefest.com
August 12-14, 2011, 28th Annual Big Grassy Traditional Powwow , Big Grassy, Ont. Info: 800-361-7228 or 807-488-5614
August 13-14, 2011, 42nd Annual Saugeen First Nation Competition Powwow James Mason Center, Saugeen First Nation, Ont., 1-800-680-0744 or 519-797-2781 or email: [email protected] or [email protected]
August 16 -18, 2011 , Cowessess First Nation Traditional Powwow Cowessess, Saskatchewan, Info: 306-696-3324 or email: [email protected]
August 19-21, 2011 27th Annual Powwow Cape Croker Park, Wiarton, Ont. Contact Arlene at 519-534-1951 or email: [email protected]
August 19-21, 2011 East Coast First People’s Alliance Annual Powwow and 13th Annual Meeting Val Comeau, New Brunswick . Info: Alfred Chiasson 1-506-344-8985
August 20-21, 2011 16th Annual Wahnapitae First Nations Traditional Powwow North Sudbury, Ont. Info: 705-858-0610 or www.wahnapitaefirstnation.com
August 19-24, 2011 Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Summer Games Wagmatcook, Nova Scotia. Email: [email protected] or www.nssummergames.com
August 26-28 , 2011 Three Fires Homecoming Powwow & Traditional Gathering, Hagersville, Ont. Info: 905-768-5686 or Faith at 519-445-2283 or email [email protected]
August 27-28, 2011 Chippewas of Rama First Nation Powwow Celebration Competition Dancing, Black River Wilderness Park, Rama, Ont. Info: 705-325-3611 ext.1288 SEPTEMBER September 2-4, 2011 , Wabigoon Lake Ojibway Traditional Powwow, Wabigoon Lake, Dryden, Ont. Contact: Anita at 807-938-8022 or Mary Rose at 807-938-6476 or www.wabigoonlakeon.ca September 3-4, 2011, 36th Annual Delaware Nation Competition Powwow Highgate Road, School House Line, Moravian Reserve, Ont. Contact Justin at 519-695-6450
September 5 -11, 2011 , Membertou Powwow (September 10 & 11) and Cultural Awareness Week Membertou First Nation, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Info: 902-564 6466 ext. 200 September 8-11, 2011 , Six Nations Fall Fair Competition Powwow, Oshweken Fair Grounds, Oshweken, Ont. Info: 1-866-393-3001 or email: [email protected] or www.sntourism.com
September 10-11, 2011 , Shackan Powwow, Shackan Powwow Arbour, 20 kms East of Spences Bridge off Hwy #1 or exit 286 off the Coquihala, 46 km West of Merritt, British Columbia on Hwy #8 Contact Ruby Adams at 250-315-2377
September 10-11, 2011 , 11th Annual Akwesasne Intertribal Competition Powwow A’nowara’kowa Arena, Cornwall Island, Ont. Info: 613-575-2348 or email: [email protected] or [email protected] www.akwesasnepowwow.com
September 17-18, 2011 , Curve Lake Traditional Powwow, Lancewood Park, Curve Lake First Nations, Ont. Info: 705-657-8045
Female fancy shawl dance Female traditional dance
Forced to Make a Stand
Forced to Make a Stand is an art exhibition which coincides with From Each Side of the Grand River – an exhibition looking at the land claims issues along the Grand River territory relating to the Haldimand Treaty of 1784. 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 Nations rights. For more information visit www.woodland-centre.on.ca/index.php.
“It takes a thousand voices to tell a single story.” - Tribe Unknown
Hot & Spicy Food Festival, September 2-5, 2011, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ont.
Saturday, September 3, 2011, Hot & Spicy Food Festival will feature Ten Tastes To Try Before You Die : Cranberry Bannock by Chef Leonard Abel Jr, FoodShare , at Marilyn Brewer Community Space at 5pm, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto. Watch this engaging Cranberry Bannock food demonstration led by Chef Leonard Abel Jr. from FoodShare featuring the herbs and spices grown as part of the urban agricultural activity for families, Dig In! Leonard Abel Jr. began his cooking career at the Toronto Council Fire and Native Cultural Centre and cooked in a variety of restaurants before joining the FoodShare kitchen in 2009 as a member of the Good Food Café team. Leonard is currently the Community Education Supervisor, working as a teacher in FoodShare's Community Kitchen programme. Working with a variety of community groups, and in particular, with the TDSB Aboriginal Education Centre. Leonard teaches cooking in a community setting and spreads FoodShare's message of Good Healthy Food For All to hundreds of people throughout the city of Toronto. FoodShare Toronto is a non-profit community organization whose vision is Good Healthy Food for All. FoodShare Toronto is Canada’s largest community food security organization, recognized as an important innovator of effective programs that have been reproduced all across Canada.
Sunday, September 4th, 2011 , Hot & Spicy Food Festival presents, Ten Tastes To Try Before You Die : Adobo Marinated Bison Brisket by Chef Aaron Joseph Bear Robe , Keriwa Café at Lakeside Terrace at 4pm, Harbourfront Centre, Toronto.. Keriwa Cafe, located in Parkdale, Toronto, is a rustic fine dining restaurant that is committed to serving local, regional seasonal cuisine and drink paired with impeccable serve. Keriwa Café owner and chef, Aaron Joseph Bear Robe, will prepare Adobo Marinated Bison Brisket with Spiced Bannock and Grilled Scallion Salsa Verde, hosted by Catherine Jheon, writer and content producer for foodnetwork.ca. Aaron Joseph Bear Robe has worked in some of the best fine dining establishments across Canada and is excited to showcase his unique blend of indigenous Canadian ingredients and techniques in his just opened Keriwa Cafe located in the Parkdale neighbourhood of Toronto.
“Before eating, always take time to thank the food.”
- Arapaho
Buffy Sainte-Marie to be a special guest at the annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival , October 19-23, 2011
(Toronto) – The imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival is thrilled to announce that legendary artist Buffy Sainte-Marie will headline The Beat music night and participate as a special guest at a panel discussion as part of its 12th annual festivities! Ms. Sainte-Marie’s engagements kick off at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Cinema 2 on Friday, October 21 at 7pm for an intimate and free “In Discussion With Buffy” panel, which will span her triumphs and achievements. Photo by Tim Wiest Celebrated musician, Academy Award winner, and new media artist, Ms. Sainte-Marie will discuss her incredible journey to becoming one of the world’s most acclaimed Indigenous musicians, her experiences as a pioneer of new media art, and what is in store for her future. Continuing on Saturday, October 23 at 7pm (tickets $15 - $20) Buffy Sainte-Marie headlines The Beat, presented by Slaight Music, at the Phoenix Concert Hall. imagineNATIVE is thrilled to have Slaight Music as the new presenter of this event, and a new Gold Level sponsor of imagineNATIVE. Slaight Music’s mandate is to support the Canadian music community through various initiatives, and to develop Canadian talent via strategic partnerships with industry peers. Gary Slaight, CEO of Slaight Music, says of the new partnership, “We are honoured to play a role in the development of Indigenous Canadian Artists and excited about this new relationship with imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival. ”One of the premier annual Indigenous music events in Toronto, The Beat will feature a programme of international music
videos and an electrifying performance by Buffy Sainte-Marie. The evening will also feature the premiere of a youth-made video project inspired by Buffy’s legacy, and an opening performance by local singer Lena Recollet. “imagineNATIVE is incredibly pleased to have Buffy Sainte-Marie – a true Indigenous icon – at this year’s festival,” says Jason Ryle, Executive Director. “As an artist she continues to create work that inspires and challenges, and which has made a lasting impact in so many genres of Indigenous arts. As we make our move to the TIFF Bell Lightbox, we are very pleased to be able to share with our new and loyal audiences the talent and insight of one of the world’s most recognized and respected Indigenous artists.” Tickets are available online, by phone and in person starting October 3, 2011. For complete details, visit www.imagineNATIVE.org or phone (416)- 585- 2333 The Beat Tickets: $20 ($15 students/seniors/underemployed)
Thank you Harbourfront Centre Sponsors: