You are invited to The Writers Room with Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Leanne Simpson, and Tania Carter

Hosted by Cliff Cardinal

Monday Nov 28, 7 pm - 10 pm 

Toronto Free Gallery   (1277 Bloor St. W @Landsdowne)

November 28th brings together the powerful and poignant poet Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm with non-fiction's finest Leanne Simpson and meaningful tale master Tania Carter. Hosting is the hilarious and nefarious Cliff Cardinal. 

Revel in, review and respond to eachothers work at The WRITER'S ROOM. This bimonthly space brings all word warriors, from spoken word to scripts and poetry to novels, together for readings and professional development. The beginning of the night is a time to read to individuals intimately or talk about the craft with someone who may have the advice you need. Next you will hear from incredible writers reading from  their latest works or addressing what they have learned of the art form. The end of the night is open to everyone to get up on the mic and share current projects, test your voices and deliver your words. Writer's from any community and discipline are welcome.  If you would like to come as an audience member and offer your ear, eye and mind only then please feel welcomed.

Please rsvp  and sign up for open mic to executive.andpva@gmail.com or call 416 535 4567 x 101.

Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm is a writer, publisher, poet, editor, activist and Indigenous arts advocate from the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation at Neyaashiinigmiing on the Saugeen Peninsula in Ontario. She has released a collection of poetry, my heart is a stray bullet, a chapbook, bloodriver woman, and two acclaimed poetry and music cds, standing ground, and the soundtrack from A Constellation of Bones. The performance piece, A Constellation of Bones was done in collaboration with acclaimed choreographer Santee Smith and Maori hip hop artist and producer Te Kupu. The soundtrack, featuring my lyrics and vocals with music and background vocals by Te Kupu was nominated for a 2008 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award. Kateri's literary work has been published internationally in journals, anthologies, and magazines in Italy, Canada, the USA, Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand, Germany, and Ireland. Kateri has edited two trailblazing anthologies Without Reservation: Indigenous Erotica and the award winning skins: contemporary Indigenous writing, as well as a special issue of Rampike magazine featuring the work of Indigenous writers and artists. Her poetry was featured on the premiere season of the series Heart of a Poet which aired on Bravo!, The Learning Channel, and BookTV. Kateri was also featured in the documentary "Words from the Edge" which was filmed on tour in Italy by a film crew from Spain.

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson is a writer, activist, and scholar of Michi Saagiik Nishnaabeg ancestry and is a band member of Alderville First Nation. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Manitoba, is an Adjunct Professor in Indigenous Studies at Trent University and an instructor at the Centre for World Indigenous Knowledge, Athabasca University.  She has published three edited volumes including Lighting the Eighth Fire: The Liberation, Resurgence and Protection of Indigenous Nations (2008, Arbeiter Ring), and This is An Honour Song: Twenty Years Since the Barricades (with Kiera Ladner, 2010, Arbeiter Ring). Leanne has published over thirty scholarly articles and raised over one million dollars for community-based research projects over her career. She has written fiction and non-fiction pieces for Now Magazine, Spirit Magazine, the Globe and Mail, Anishinabek News, the Link, and Canadian Art Magazine. Her third book, Dancing on Our Turtle's Back: Stories of Nishnaabeg Re-Creation, Resurgence and a New Emergence was published in May 2011 and turns to Nishnaabeg theory and philosophy for guidance in building and maintaining resurgence movements. It is her hope that this work will inspire the regeneration Nishnaabeg systems of governance, language, and knowledge - systems that place women back at the centre of Kina Gchi Nishnaabeg‐ogaming. Leanne will be launching Dancing on Our Turtle's Back on Friday, December 2, 2011, at 1pm at First Nations House, University of Toronto.

Tania Carter is a theatre administrator, stage manager and assistant youth theatre teacher for Manitoba Theatre for Young People in cahoots with Columpa Bobb. Carter has a background in literature. She believes in Indigenous theatre as a necessity to young and old peoples cultural survival in the global economic system, whether it's in the living room of our homes or on the stage of the Royal Alex, we need to hear our stories and to tell them. Carter has done it through story, and music and through helping youth come to the forefront of professional theatre.

Cliff Cardinal is a twenty-six year multi-disciplinary artist from Toronto. Acting credits include ‘Tales Of An Urban Indian' with Green Thumb Theatre, ‘The Saskatchewan Rebellion' with VideoCabaret and ‘Three Little Birds' with Workshop West Theatre alongside his mother Tantoo Cardinal. As a writer Cardinal's first play ‘Stitch' debuted at The SummerWorks Festival and was recognized with two awards. (The Spotlight Award was given to Cara Gee for the top performance in the festival and Cardinal won Theatre Paisse Muraille's Emerging Artist Award.) He is currently writing his follow up ‘Huff' which was read on Oct. 26th as part of Native Earth's Weesageechak Festival. As a musician Cardinal performs acoustically or with Toronto punk band The Dependents.

Thank you to our September Writers Room readers Cliff Cardinal, Lee Maracle and Shandra Spears Bombay!

Looking forward to seeing you on Monday at Toronto Free Gallery,

Wanda 

Wanda Nanibush

Executive Director

ANDPVA

Artscape Wychwood Barns

601 Christie St.   Studio #171

Toronto, Ontario M6G 4C7

416.535.4567 x 103

wnanibush@gmail.com

www.andpva.com