You are invited to The Writers Room with Duke Redbird, Neal McLeod and Black Coffee Poet
in honour of all the missing and murdered Indigenous women

Hosted by Cliff Cardinal

January 23rd, 2012 7 pm - 10 pm 
Toronto Free Gallery (1277 Bloor St. W @Landsdowne)

Revel in, review and respond to each others 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. You will hear from incredible writers reading from their latest works or addressing what they have learned of the art form. The beginning 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.

Duke Redbird is a member of the Saugeen First Nation Territory and an author of poetry published in numerous anthologies, including textbooks in both Canada and the United States. Duke also worked as an Arts and Entertainment reporter for CityTV. 

Neal McLeod received his PhD from the University of Regina and is currently a Professor of Indigenous Studies at Trent University in Peterborough, ON. His research focuses on Cree culture and history, Canadian Indigenous Literature and Creative Writing, Western Canadian Indigenous history, Indigenous Research Methodologies, oral history research methodologies, Indigenous political history and treaties, and Indigenous art (theory and practice).

Jorge Antonio Vallejos is a mixed race, Toronto based, poet, essayist and journalist. He is the creator of blackcoffeepoet.com. His writing has appeared in COLORLINES, XTRA!, THIS Magazine, REDWIRE, Anishinabek News, Toronto Star, The Kenyon Review, and Descant. Jorge has been mentored by Aboriginal writers Marilyn Dumont, Lee Maracle, Daniel Heath Justice, and Simon Ortiz.

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.

To sign up for open mic or for more info please contact:

Leslie McCue
executive.andpva@gmail.com or call 416 535 4567 x 101.

Thank you to our November Writers Room readers Kateri Akiwenzie-Damm, Leanne Simpson and Tania Carter also all the open mic readers!

Looking forward to seeing you all on the 23rd!

www.andpva.com

www.torontofreegallery.org