Celebrating 10 Years! Presented By FESTival pRogRaM SEpTEMbER 9-13 2015 MTS CENTRE WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA indigenousmusicawards.com manitoahbee.com NeedNeed fundingfunding forfor youryour nextnext project?project? ApplyApply for for FACTOR FACTOR fundingfunding atat www.factor.cawww.factor.ca to to get get help help for for tours, tours, sound sound recordings,recordings, andand music music videos. videos. We acknowledge the financial support We ofacknowledge Canada’s private the financial radio broadcasters. support of Canada’s private radio broadcasters. contentsTABLE OF About Manito Ahbee ............................................................................. 4 Welcome/Messages ............................................................................. 5 Board of Governors .............................................................................. 6 Greetings ............................................................................................... 8 Event Staff ............................................................................................ 12 Special Thanks .................................................................................... 23 Our Sponsors ...................................................................................... 32 Official Schedule .................................................................................. 34 IMA EvEnts >>> Red Carpet ........................................................................................... 25 The Hosts ............................................................................................ 27 RBC – IMA Ohshkii Showcase ............................................................... 28 IMA Show ............................................................................................ 29 The Nominees ..................................................................................... 34 IntErnAtIonAl pow wow >>> Getting Jiggy With It ............................................................................. 43 Pow wow Agenda ................................................................................ 47 Pow wow 101 ....................................................................................... 48 Miss Manito Ahbee Youth Ambassador ............................................... 54 EvEnts & ActIvItIEs >>> OMG Jamboree ..................................................................................... 24 Youth Cultural Education Day .............................................................. 40 Children’s Activities ............................................................................. 60 Indigenous Marketplace & Trade Show ................................................ 60 Manito Ahbee Festival in the Community ................................62 about the manito AhBEE FESTIVAL Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada thE MAnIto AhbEE FEstIvAl Hosted in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, the festival draws people from across Canada the United States and abroad. The impact of the festival reaches well beyond entertainment; it has communicated a very significant message about the importance of celebrating Aborigi- nal culture. It arouses a far deeper understanding and powerful affirmation of Aboriginal cultural rebirth and renewal. It showcases the talents, gifts and abilities of Aboriginal artists from all nations. It is truly a celebration of Aboriginal music, arts, culture and heritage not seen before by the broader public through the many festival events. The Festival has established a number of groundbreaking legacies and demonstrates that Aboriginal culture is fresh, contemporary and, above all, relevant in a contemporary world. The name Manito Ahbee references a sacred site located in Manitoba’s Whiteshell Provincial Park, where First Nations gather to share teachings and perform ceremony. Manito Ahbee means “ where the Creator sits.” There are a number of petroforms at this special site, including one in the shape of the turtle that is used in the Manito Ahbee logo. Since the festival is a continental event, the turtle also represents Turtle Island, which is another name for North America. wElcoME to thE MAnIto AhbEE FEstIvAl! 4 • 2015 FESTival pRogRaM welcome Greetings & welcome! The ManiTo ahbee FesTival celebraTes 10 years! lisa Meeches Executive Director – The Manito Ahbee Festival In 2006 the dream of the Manito Ahbee Festival came true as we celebrated the inaugural event that touched the hearts and spirits of all who participated. The Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards were born (now the IMA) and the International Pow Wow’s first grand entry took place in the MTS Centre, and all who attended knew, this was something very special and spiritual. Ten years later, as we continue to honour the sacred site, Manito Ahbee – where the creator sits, our bond as a community with no borders has reached an ultimate high and we should all be very proud of what we have accomplished. Embracing our history and anticipating the excitement of the future, as we continue to break new ground and strengthen lasting relationships, is what the festival is all about. Welcome back, elders, friends, & family into the circle of the Manito Ahbee Festival. All my relations, Lisa Meeches David Dandeneau Chair – The Manito Ahbee Festival Welcome to the Manito Ahbee Festival! The last 10 years have been an amazing journey for the Manito Ahbee Festival as it has grown into one of the premier festivals in North America. The gathering each year has welcomed people from around the world to the heart of Turtle Island to join together in celebrating a vibrant heritage and culture. On behalf of the Board of Governors we welcome you and your family to an experience you will never forget. Thank you to our presenting sponsor Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, our family of sponsors, staff, volunteers and you, for making 10 years possible! 2015 FESTival pRogRaM • 5 board OF governorS DaviD DanDeneau Chair David Dandeneau is a proud Métis from the Interlake and co-founder of the Elzéar-Goulet Local, the only French-speaking Métis local under the governance of the MMF. In his retirement, he enjoys his role as Director of Aboriginal Business Liaison for IDFusion Software and Business Manager for Voilà by Andréanne, an Aboriginal fashion design and manufacturing company based in Winnipeg. For over 40 years, he has actively been involved in the Festival du Voyageur and as past Official Voya- geur still contributes many volunteer hours yearly to this Festival. He is a founding member of several Francophone community organizations such as the Maison Gabrielle-Roy, the Conseil Elzéar Goulet and Héritage Saint-Boniface. In 2012, he was the recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his community Service. Most recently, the Minister of Manitoba Conservation, Parks & Natural Resources, has appointed him to the Minister’s Upper Fort Garry Advisory Committee. Phil Fontaine board Member Phil Fontaine is a Special Advisor of the Royal Bank of Canada and Ogilvy Renault/Norton Rose. He serves as a director for numerous private and public companies including Next Alternative Inc., One Earth Farms Corp. and Avalon Rare Metals. Mr. Fontaine served as National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations for three terms. He is a Member of Order of Manitoba and was awarded the National Aboriginal Achievement Award in 1996 and the Equitas Human Rights Education Award in 2010. ART+IDEAS Apply now Indigenous Arts Residencies Winnipeg Performer Tanya Tagaq, banffcentre.ca photo by Nadya Kwandibens. 6 • 2015 FESTival pRogRaM board OF governorS tasha sPillett board Member Tasha Spillett is an Indigenous educator in Manitoba, teaching at both the high school level and in post- secondary. She is Cree from Treaty 5 and Treaty 6 territories and is Trinidadian. Tasha is a ceremony woman and a traditional singer. Tasha fuses her traditional knowledge and academic background in her teaching practice and is passionate about sharing her experiences and perspectives with others. Tasha is committed to supporting the well-being of community through the reclamation of traditional ways of being, and nurturing positive sense of identities in youth. Tasha has recently completed her Masters of Education degree in Indigenous Land Based Education through the University of Saskatchewan. Ry MoRan board Member Ry Moran is known for his creative and professional work across the country. As a musician and composer, Ry received significant media attention and awards including a National Aboriginal Role Model Award in 2008 and a First Tracks Music Video Award in 2009. Ry is deeply committed to community and feels privileged to play a role in the growth of aboriginal culture and musical talent in Canada. 2015 FESTival pRogRaM • 7 greetings Message froM the premier of Manitoba On behalf of the Province and people of Manitoba, I am honoured to welcome you to this sacred site for the 2015 Manito Ahbee Festival. At the heart of Turtle Island, Manitoba has long been a meeting place for people of all walks of life. Manito Ahbee carries on this proud tradition by uniting us as one community through a rich celebration of Indigenous music, art and culture. I hope that we may all take this opportunity to recognize the common threads that connect us. At Manito Ahbee, people of all backgrounds are bound by the spirit of the Creator and our shared values of love, respect and honesty. I would like to thank the countless volunteers, staff and visitors who help bring this beautiful celebration