Planet IndigenUs is about Us

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Emil Montgomery
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August 2010 Edition What is Planet IndigenUs? We are all from somewhere, a place on this earth from where we trace our ancestors.

downtown Toronto s Dundas Square. June 2010 is Canada s first celebrated National Aboriginal History Month.

Canadian Centre of Toronto, led a team of volunteers and staff to plan and organize this fantastic cultural event.

Opening public welcoming addresses were made at Dundas Square by City of Toronto s Mayor David Miller, Chief Brian Laforme of the Mississauga of the New Credit Nation and

1 August 2010 Edition 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 The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto hosted a fabulous National Aboriginal History Month kick-off event on June 1, 2010 in the heart of downtown Toronto s Dundas Square. June 2010 is Canada s first celebrated National Aboriginal History Month. Lyndon Blackbird, president of the Native June 1, 2010 First Nation dancers at Dundas Square celebration. Toronto, Ont. Canadian Centre of Toronto, led a team of volunteers and staff to plan and organize this fantastic cultural event. The National Aboriginal History Month kick-off in Toronto opened with an early morning sunrise ceremony held at the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Opening public welcoming addresses were made at Dundas Square by City of Toronto s Mayor David Miller, Chief Brian Laforme of the Mississauga of the New Credit Nation and president of the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, Lyndon Blackbird. Lyndon commented, National Aboriginal History Month is an annual opportunity for Aboriginal peoples to share their historical contributions and their culture with all other Canadians. In Toronto, many Aboriginal agencies have celebrated National Aboriginal Day at various times during the month of June. In essence, June was already considered Aboriginal Month. With the federal government's recognition of National Aboriginal History Month, this became an official 1

event. As a result, some Aboriginal agencies are moving their celebrations to occur in June.

In addition to cultural showcases, I envision educational seminars, open houses, art shows, film

culture. During this sharing of knowledge, we also preserve and use it.

Audience viewers witnessed fabulous traditional and contemporary art work and Aboriginal entertainment

World Champion Hoop Dancer, Lisa Odjig, and Inuit throat Tonantzin Aztec Dancers singing by Raiglee and

Aboriginal entertainment continued throughout the day with First Nations School drumming, flute playing,

2 event. As a result, some Aboriginal agencies are moving their celebrations to occur in June. Others, like the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto, have initiated new celebrations. In addition to cultural showcases, I envision educational seminars, open houses, art shows, film festivals, storytelling, traditional gatherings and sporting events to share the richness of Aboriginal culture. During this sharing of knowledge, we also preserve and use it. We keep it alive, and fulfill our responsibilities to pass it on to the next seven generations. Audience viewers witnessed fabulous traditional and contemporary art work and Aboriginal entertainment such as the fancy shawl dance, grass dance, traditional dance, jingle dress dance, hoop dance, singing and hip hop showcases. The main stage afternoon performances were by Metis Fiddler Quartet, Tonantzin Aztec Dancers, two-time World Champion Hoop Dancer, Lisa Odjig, and Inuit throat Tonantzin Aztec Dancers singing by Raiglee and Jennifer Alorut. Aboriginal entertainment continued throughout the day with First Nations School drumming, flute playing, Toronto Nationals Lacrosse demonstration, talent show, Big Feather (Native Child and Family Services Band), dance battle (B-boy/B-girl dance demonstrations) and later into the evening the festivities topped the night off with The Johnnys rock band, and soul tingling performance by blues guitarist/singer, Brock Stonefish and The Battle River Blues. Fancy Shawl Dance 2 Hoop Dance

3 Traditional Grass Dancer and City of Toronto s Mayor David Miller Toronto Police Constable, Darryl Morrison, of the Ojibwe Nation Donna Smith, APTN News Reporter Inuit throat singing by Raiglee and Jennifer Alorut Singing performance by Shawnee Official Traditional Hand Drum singing 3

4 35 TH Annual First Nations Art, May 21 July 25, 2010, Woodland Cultural Centre, Brantford, Ont. The 35th Annual First Nations Art exhibition is one of the longest running annual exhibits that provide established and emerging First Nations' artists an excellent opportunity to exhibit and sell their work in a fine art gallery setting. Museum hours of operation: Tuesday- Friday 9:00am-4:00pm, Saturday and Sunday 10:00am-5:00pm. The Woodland Cultural Centre and Museum will be closed on Mondays. Admission: adults $7; Sr. 65+ $5; Students 6yrs-16yrs $5; 5yrs and under are FREE. All support community members receive FREE admission to the museum this includes: Six Nations, Tyendinage & Wahta. Woodland Cultural Centre Exhibitions All That Glitters, August 8 September 26, 2010 Coastal Arts The NAAF Collection, August 8 September 26, 2010 The Four Indian Kings, October 8 December 24, 2010 Upcoming: Four Kings exhibition for one week only from October 8 15, 2010, see The Original Four Kings Painting from the National Portrait Gallery The Heart of Stone, January 9 March 13,

9 th World Indigenous Women and Wellness Conference August 22-25, 2010, Darwin Convention Centre Darwin, NT, Australia The 9th World Indigenous Women and Wellness Conference is presented by the

5 9 th World Indigenous Women and Wellness Conference August 22-25, 2010, Darwin Convention Centre Darwin, NT, Australia The 9th World Indigenous Women and Wellness Conference is presented by the Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation. The Larrakia Nation Aboriginal Corporation are proud hosts of the 9th World Indigenous Women and Wellness Conference at the Darwin Convention Centre, August 22-25, This exciting and prestigious event promises to generate considerable intellectual dialogue and debate, as well as create opportunities to strengthen existing networks and forge new ones at both the local and international level. Featuring world-class speakers and participants from organizations and communities across the world, the conference marks a significant gathering for the global Indigenous community. The conference has five interconnected themes to be explored through paper and poster presentations, keynote speaker addresses and conference workshops conducted by academics, grass roots practitioners, leaders and elders. For more information on the conference, please visit To register online, visit For more information about registering please contact Lily May, conference administrator on reception@larrakia.com or To contact the conference organizers Alice Buscombe and Sarina Jan, please conference@larrakia.com. 5

6 September 2010 Event Listings Wabigoon Lake Ojibway traditional Pow Wow, September 3-5, 2010, Dryden, Ont. Info: or Manoomin Festival traditional Pow Wow, September 4-5, 2010, Plevna, Ont. Info: Paula Sherman Cost: Entry by donation. Four wheeler draw and 50/50 draws. Photo by Nigel Schuyler Delaware Nation contest Pow Wow, September 4-5, 2010, Moravian Reserve, Ont. Highgate Road. Info: or Six Nations Fall Fair and Contest Pow Wow. September 9-12, 2010, Ohsweken Fair Grounds, Ohsweken, Ont. Info: th Annual Traditional Pow Wow. September 11-12, 2010 Midland, Ont. Ste Marie Park. Info: Kathy Cost: public admission $5 At Husking Time Women s Conference, September 11, Chiefswood National Historic Site, Oshweken, Ont. Info: Joslyn Jamieson Traditional Harvest Festival & Pow Wow, September 18-19, 2010, Ontario Museum of Archaeology, London, Ont. Info: Dr. Robert Pearson FREE admission. Concert for the Cure, September 24-25, 2010, Chiefswood Park, Oshweken, Ont. 6

7 Reporting from Australia! By: Artistic Producer, Melanie Fernandez, Harbourfront Centre I had the privilege of travelling to Australia last month to attend the amazing Dreaming Festival which is held outside Brisbane on a wonderful site which is the home of the Woodford Folk Festival. The Dreaming Festival is a critical important festival because it showcases Indigenous work from Australia and the Pacific region as well as a number of international artists. This year a large contingent of Canadian artists were showcased at the festival. Over the years, Planet IndigenUs and the Dreaming Festival have developed close ties with staff of each event, travelling to participate and attend the other. This has resulted in a number of collaborations. It was a wonderful experience for me to attend the Dreaming Festival for the first time and I learned so much from the talented dream team of Sam Cooke (replacing Rhoda Roberts) and Di Mills. You can follow my Dreaming adventures on the Planet IndigenUs facebook pages along with some photos from the festival. There are some very interesting components within the Dreaming Festival that we would like to incorporate in future Planet IndigenUs festivals! Travelling onwards, I had the opportunity to meet a wonderful range of people in 7

Darwin representing the Darwin Festival, literary festival, art fair, cultural centre service organization and a couple of key music people.

we will have much more close collaboration in the future.

Sydney and I saw some amazing work. I was also able to meet with Australia Council staff and discuss how best to work together in the future.

8 Darwin representing the Darwin Festival, literary festival, art fair, cultural centre service organization and a couple of key music people. The Northern Territories is a very active region and it was wonderful to learn more about the art, culture and the context of the region and I feel we will have much more close collaboration in the future. Traditional dance performance at the Dreaming Festival I ended my trip in Sydney and was lucky to be there at the same time as the 17th Biennale of Sydney and I saw some amazing work. I was also able to meet with Australia Council staff and discuss how best to work together in the future. The trip brought forward some amazing ideas and prospective projects for 2012 so stay tuned! Musical entertainment and the crowd A beautiful environment Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture your heart Native American elder 8

9 Haida Made: New Collaborations in Design Exhibition: September 25 November 7, 2010 Symposium: October 17, 2010 Harbourfront Centre, Toronto, Ont. A collaboration between designers Michael Erdmann, Patty Johnson and Haida Gwaii First Nations artists with support from the Great Bear Initiative driven by urgent real world issues. The project aims to maximize the economic and cultural value of forest resources while protecting the health of forest ecosystems. Through cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural collaboration, artists explore traditional knowledge and practices seeking new product applications. Part of Fresh Ground new works, Harbourfront Centre s national commissioning programme. Stay tuned for more information in the next Planet IndigenUs 2010 newsletter, and be sure to visit us online at Harbourfront Centre Sponsors: 9

Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre

Godinymayin Yijard Rivers Arts & Culture Centre PROGRAM February June 2018 Visual arts Michael Cook, Undiscovered #4, 2010. Undiscovered: Michael Cook 8 FEBRUARY 31 MARCH Undiscovered is a photographic