1-4 p.m.

Cherish Violet Blood with Lisa Marie Cher Big Throat

Blackfoot Shadow Puppetry Workshop
in partnership with Red Pepper Spectacle Arts

and The Toronto District School Board

*This workshop is geared towards school-aged Native students. Please call 416 535-4567 ext. 105 or email andpva.events@gmail.com for availability info*

Cherish Violet Blood is a writer, actress, storyteller and comedian, and a graduate of the Centre for Indigenous Theatre. She also sings with the woman’s hand drum group Shkinwe win. Lisa Marie Cher Big Throat finds her passion in the visual arts, as well as theatre & costume design, make-up artistry, and community arts program facilitation. Both artists are from the Blood Reserve located in southern Alberta, and have gained impressive skills in the facilitation of arts activities through Red Pepper Spectacle Arts. Lisa and Cherish have combined their artistic talents creating a unique approach to educating people on their Blackfoot teachings and culture through traditional stories.

The participants will be introduced to a legend from the Blackfoot people about the trickster Napi (Old Man). Through a shadow puppet presentation they will witness our oral traditions of story telling transformed into a visually stimulating performance. The participants will then be lead through the second part of the workshop where they will get to make their own shadow puppet to take with them.

1-4 p.m.

Bruce Naokwegijig

Improv Workshop

in partnership with Debajehmujig Theatre Group

and The Toronto District School Board

*This workshop is geared towards school-aged Native students. Please call 416 535-4567 ext. 105 or email andpva.events@gmail.com for availability info*

Bruce Naokwegijig is the Artistic Director for De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group’s training Program (National Aboriginal Arts Animator Program). Bruce is also one of the founding members of The Best Medicine Troupe, this is now a major component for De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group’s Outreach Program He began theatre at the age of 11, premiering in “Lupi, The Great White Wolf” The first production ever to be performed fully in the Ojibway Language.He has grown both artistically and physically in the theatre. Since then Bruce has performed in 18 theatrical productions and has started directing a few of the mainstages. Bruce has acted, directed, danced, developed soundscapes, as well as provided theatre improv training and movement.

Bruce has travelled to many northern remote communities to share his skills and talents. He has also toured locally, provincially, nationally and internationally delivering performances and training workshops. He enjoys the training component of the company delivering to young and old alike, as well as being a lead creator in many productions on the professional part of the company. He also works on short pieces of film for the company. Miigwetch.

Participants will learn basic skills in improvisation, and will have a chance to learn together and perform basic improv exercises.

9:30-12:00

Bruce Naokwegijig

Stage Combat/Movement Workshop

Bruce Naokwegijig is the Artistic Director for De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group’s training Program (National Aboriginal Arts Animator Program). Bruce is also one of the founding members of The Best Medicine Troupe, this is now a major component for De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Group’s Outreach Program He began theatre at the age of 11, premiering in “Lupi, The Great White Wolf” The first production ever to be performed fully in the Ojibway Language.He has grown both artistically and physically in the theatre. Since then Bruce has performed in 18 theatrical productions and has started directing a few of the mainstages. Bruce has acted, directed, danced, developed soundscapes, as well as provided theatre improv training and movement.

Bruce has travelled to many northern remote communities to share his skills and talents. He has also toured locally, provincially, nationally and internationally delivering performances and training workshops. He enjoys the training component of the company delivering to young and old alike, as well as being a lead creator in many productions on the professional part of the company. He also works on short pieces of film for the company. Miigwetch.

Participants will learn simple stage combat movements, and perform them in a scene.

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1:00-3:30

Christine Friday

Mental and Physical Preparation For Performance Workshop

Christine began her professional career in 1992 with In the Land of Spirits Production which toured across Canada. This in turn led to a three year contract with Desrosiers Dance Theatre, touring across Canada, Aruba and New York City. She won the YTV award for dance and has received many grants from Canada Council, Ontario Arts Council and The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation for her choreography as a solo artist: She has taught dance with youth in the Yukon, Banff, Ottawa, Toronto, Bear Island, Moose Factory, Centre for Indigenous Theatre School and Kanata Native Cultural Society. Selected dance credits include works with, Earth in Motion, Menika Thkar, Michael Greyeyes, Santee Smith, Tribe, Raoul Trujillo, and Benito Concha’s Secret Souls. She has been involved with five productions of the Aboriginal Achievement Awards including choreographing for the Awards in 2008. She worked five years in Cape Croker First Nation establishing two annual events: a youth arts camp and Concert event while coordinating community cultural workshops. She continues to work on creating an original full scale production called Passage, which has been developed into a dance film. She works full time as a yoga instructor and a mother. She continues to develop and host an annual summer dance youth program for her community on Bear Island, Lake Temagami.

This workshop will take participants through a holistic approach towards preparation for performance. This will include breathing and visualization techniques, warming up the body with basic movement and yoga exercise. This workshop will also include voice work, improvisation, mental preparation, and focus with the ability to ground and channel energy. Participants will walk away with a new understanding for themselves, increasing their vocabulary, reaching your full potential in preparation for performance. Open to all emerging and professional theatre and dance artists.

10:0-12:00

Nadine St-Louis

Craft & Design Workshop

Nadine St-Louis is an Algonquin Métis woman with over 15 years experience in management, communications, marketing, consulting and business experience. She is also a traditional leather artists and mentor of Aboriginal Culture and teachings. Nadine founded Sacred Fire Productions Inc. in 2006 to be an Aboriginal communications and marketing company focusing on the promotion of Aboriginal events, arts and artists. Today, she has a line of products she calls Sacred Fire Designs, which feature hand made moccasins, medicines pouches, purses, shawls and mukluks. Her creativity is also seen in the traditional jewelry where she incorporates bones, semi-precious stones and hides as her primary elements.

In this workshop, participants will learn about design and materials, and have the opportunity to create a small leather craft item.

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1:00-3:00

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm

Getting Published Workshop

in partnership with Kegedonce Press

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm is an Anishinaabe writer of mixedblood from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation. She has lived and worked at Neyaashiinigmiing, Cape Croker Reserve on the Saugeen Peninsula in southwestern Ontario since 1994. Her spoken word, poetry and other works have been published, recorded and performed around the world. When Kateri is not writing she keeps busy with her consulting company DammWrite! Consulting and Communications, working with First Nations groups and projects. She is also the Managing Editor of Kegedonce Press, a small publishing company she set up in 1993 to publish and promote the work of Indigenous writers, artists and others in the publishing field.

Kateri will bring her experience and skills to learners who seek to understand the process of getting published.

12:00-4:00 p.m.

Asani

Vocal and Drumming Workshop

Award-winning Asani is a contemporary Aboriginal women’s trio from Edmonton, that captivates audiences with their breathtaking harmonies, dynamic vocal artistry and powerful rhythmic style. Members Sarah Pocklington, Debbie Houle and Sherryl Sewepagaham carry with them the traditional influences of First Nations and Métis music accompanied by drums and rattles. Their songs resonate with a unique blend of traditional vocals infused with the contemporary sounds of jazz, folk and blues.

(Asani: “rock” in the Cree language)

Come explore the power of voice, rhythm and music-making with Asani. Traditional and contemporary elements will be woven together and blended with percussive instrumentation within an interactive and participatory environment.

12:00-5:00 p.m.

Luke Parnell

Cedar Panel Workshop

Luke Parnell is of Nisga’a and Haida descent. He is an extremely accomplished professional artist, having worked in object making and installations for eight years. His artistic practice consists of carving and painting in wood. His paintings are predominantly Nisga’a or Haida design, using traditional North West coast and Chilkat design. Luke is a graduate of the Ontario College of Art and Design, and apprentice of Master Carver Henry Green. Luke continues to support the growth of student artists by working as a class assistant in the OCAD wood shop.

In this workshop, participants will receive both an introduction to understanding northwest coast art and design, and an opportunity to design and paint their own small red cedar panel.