Indigenous Legacy Gathering | November 4-5, 2021
Table of Contents
Partners/Funders/Supporters
Schedule
Performers/Speakers
All Nations Junior – Drum
Thursday 11:00 – 11:30 am
Friday 11:00 – 11:30 am
Friday 11:00 – 11:30 am
Each member of the group has been singing, dancing, and practicing their culture since they were just babies. So, in 2012 when the drum group first met through Toronto Council Fire’s youth program, the Little Embers, All Nations
Juniors was born. The group has composed many songs, one of which,
‘Everyone Welcome’ was written by members Dakota Myran and Jayden
Wemigwans. This Cree/Ojibwe song was composed in honour of all peoples
across Turtle Island and tells a story that all dancers are welcome to come
into the arena to dance and showcase their styles and culture. The All Nations
Juniors are also a part of the A more Beautiful Journey project.
Red Bear Singers – Songs and Hand Drums
Thursday 3:45 – 4:15 pm
Friday 3:45 – 4:15 pm
Friday 3:45 – 4:15 pm
The Red Bear Singers started singing together in circle at Toronto Council Fire
in 2018. This was done as a way to continue the personal healing journeys of
each individual member in a group setting. The group wrote their first song
in 2018, titled, “Away Back”. This song honours the children taken from their
families and placed into foster care, orphanages, day schools, and Residential
Schools. Since then, the group has worked on learning several community
songs including the three songs which can be heard on the Soundways App.
The App is a part of the Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Toronto’s
Year of Public Art, A More Beautiful Journey landmark XR (extended reality)
audio installation. (amorebeatifuljourney.ca)
in 2018. This was done as a way to continue the personal healing journeys of
each individual member in a group setting. The group wrote their first song
in 2018, titled, “Away Back”. This song honours the children taken from their
families and placed into foster care, orphanages, day schools, and Residential
Schools. Since then, the group has worked on learning several community
songs including the three songs which can be heard on the Soundways App.
The App is a part of the Toronto Transit Commission and the City of Toronto’s
Year of Public Art, A More Beautiful Journey landmark XR (extended reality)
audio installation. (amorebeatifuljourney.ca)
Aztec Dancers Group Dance
Thursday 11:45 – 12:20 pm
Friday 11:45 – 12:20 pm
Friday 11:45 – 12:20 pm
The Aztec Dancers perform traditional Indigenous dances from Mexico. Their
dances honour the 4 sacred elements; water, earth, air, and fire. Each dance
has a meaning and a prayer.
Kevin Sandy – Lacrosse Teachings and Demonstration
Thursday 1:25 – 2:00 pm
Friday 1:25 – 2:00 pm
Friday 1:25 – 2:00 pm
Kevin Sandy is from Lower Cayuga Nation, Wolf Clan, and resides in Grand
River Territory, Six Nations. Kevin is the CEO/Director of Haudenosaunee Lacrosse and Otahyoni Management Group and a co-founder of the Indigenous Lacrosse Association.
River Territory, Six Nations. Kevin is the CEO/Director of Haudenosaunee Lacrosse and Otahyoni Management Group and a co-founder of the Indigenous Lacrosse Association.
Lisa Odjig Mchayle
Thursday 5:15 – 5:50 pm
Friday 5:15 – 5:50 pm
Friday 5:15 – 5:50 pm
Lisa Odjig Mchayle is Odawa, Ojibwe Nation from Wiikwemikong, Manitoulin
Island, Ontario. She is a World Champion Hoop dancer. Hoop dancing is a
form of storytelling through dance. An Indigenous hoop dancer uses hoops to
create shapes as they move to music. The hoops represent animals, symbols
and designs and are sometimes put together to make spheres.
Island, Ontario. She is a World Champion Hoop dancer. Hoop dancing is a
form of storytelling through dance. An Indigenous hoop dancer uses hoops to
create shapes as they move to music. The hoops represent animals, symbols
and designs and are sometimes put together to make spheres.
Logan Staats
Thursday 8:20 – 9:05 pm
Born on the Six Nations Reserve and raised in the small ghost town of
Brantford, Ont., Logan Staats started writing and performing music in
his early teens. Staat’s haunting and distinct voice won him multiple
opportunities to share the stage with acts like Buffy Sainte Marie, Keith
Secola and Mumford and Sons. Staats is the rst winner of CTV’s The
Launch. Staats enjoys jamming, collaborating and learning from his
contemporaries and other recording artists.
Brantford, Ont., Logan Staats started writing and performing music in
his early teens. Staat’s haunting and distinct voice won him multiple
opportunities to share the stage with acts like Buffy Sainte Marie, Keith
Secola and Mumford and Sons. Staats is the rst winner of CTV’s The
Launch. Staats enjoys jamming, collaborating and learning from his
contemporaries and other recording artists.
Classic Roots
Friday 8:20 – 9:00 pm
Classic Roots is currently based in Toronto but carries the spirit of
Northern Ontario with him. Classic Roots brings the sexy heartbeat of
the boreal north to life with his unique brand of Electronica and pow
wow techno. The Thunder Bay native is an award winning producer
and DJ who is impacting the music community with his fresh sound and
meaningful collaborations with diverse artists.
Classic Roots will be accompanied by Nichole Leveck, a Wyandat artist
from Toronto. Nichole has been a fancy shawl/Jingle dress dancer for
over 13 years, and a traditional dance teacher at various organizations
in the City for over 11 years.
Northern Ontario with him. Classic Roots brings the sexy heartbeat of
the boreal north to life with his unique brand of Electronica and pow
wow techno. The Thunder Bay native is an award winning producer
and DJ who is impacting the music community with his fresh sound and
meaningful collaborations with diverse artists.
Classic Roots will be accompanied by Nichole Leveck, a Wyandat artist
from Toronto. Nichole has been a fancy shawl/Jingle dress dancer for
over 13 years, and a traditional dance teacher at various organizations
in the City for over 11 years.
EJ Kwandibens – Jingle Dress Teachings and Demonstration
Thursday 12:20 – 1:25 pm
Friday 12:20 – 1:25 pm
Friday 12:20 – 1:25 pm
EJ Kwandibens is an Anishnaabe Artist & Cultural Educator from Whitesand
First Nation. EJ weaves his personal and family’s history through traditional
teachings on the jingle dress .
First Nation. EJ weaves his personal and family’s history through traditional
teachings on the jingle dress .
James Wilson
Thursday 2:10 – 2:45 pm
James N. Wilson is a Mohawk and French-Canadian Singer-Songwriter Musician from Six Nations, Ontario, Canada. He has performed his music all around North America sharing the stage with many artists such as Buffy Sainte Marie, Derek Miller, Logan Staats, and DJ Shub. In 2017 he had the opportunity to sing back-up for “Lorde” at the Much Music Video Awards in Toronto, Canada. Recently he released his debut album “Tidal Wave” which was produced by Jace Martin at Jukasa Studios on Six Nations. His new single “City Lights” hit #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown in December of 2019! Recently, James has been releasing music with the group “October Red” as well as working on his second upcoming solo album.
Shawnee Kish
Thursday 9:05 – 9:50 pm
The Mohawk singer/songwriter identifes as Two-Spirit. Named the winner of CBC’s 2020 Searchlight talent competition, Shawnee Kish has been celebrated as one of North America’s Top Gender Bending Artists (MTV), named by Billboard as an Artist You Need To Know, and continuously uses her music to empower. An outspoken advocate for her Indigenous and LGBTQ2+ communities, she is a proud Two Spirit Mohawk who has shared the stage with some of the world’s biggest names—Lady Gaga, Madonna, and Alicia Keys, to name a few.
Aqua Niibi Waawaaskone
Thursday 4:35 – 5:15 pm
Friday 4:35 – 5:15 pm
Aqua is a singer, songwriter, storyteller, artist and activist in Toronto. Nibii originates from North Bay and is a two-spirit, Ojibwe, Metis, French and Scottish. Some of Nibii’s greatest accomplishments include self-producing her released EP called Spirit Music, leading hand drum circles and sharing her music as medicine and being a Oshkaabewis~Helper to Elders.
Susan Aglukark
Friday 7:35 – 8:20 pm
Susan Aglukark grew up in Arviat, Nunavut, where her creative process, healing, and cultural exploration were all carefully intermixed. The three-time Juno Award winner became a Canadian household name after the release of her 1995, The Child featuring the single O Siem. Drawing on her Inuit cultural roots, a love of her frst language Inuktitut, she cultivated a 25-year career in music, public speaking and community service. In 2005, she was named to the Order of Canada and in 2016, received a Governor General’s Lifetime Artistic Achievement Award.
Booths
- Media Tent
- Youth Podcast Tent “We are Strong” broadcast on Spotify
- Toronto Council Fire Information/Merchandise Federal Indian Day Schools
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous
- Women and Girls Trans and 2 Spirits Social Cohesion “Revillagizing” Tent
- Indigenous Image, Creation and Culture Tent
Tipi Organizations
- ANDPVA Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts
- ONWA Ontario Native Women’s Association
- MBAET Miziwe Biik Aboriginal Employment and Training
- MNO Metis Nation of Ontario and TYRMC Toronto & York Region Metis Council
- NCFST Native Child and Family Services of Toronto
- NCCT Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
- Nishnawbe Homes
- NWRC Native Women’s Resource Centre
- 2 Spirited People of the 1st Nations
- TASSC Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council
- TWHLS Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society
Spirit Garden
The Spirit Garden Project is a 19,250 square-foot Indigenous cultural space that will provide teaching, learning, sharing, and healing experiences for the Indigenous community of Toronto, the City’s diverse citizens, newcomers, and visitors. The project responds in part to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada Call to Action 82, for governments to commission and install a Residential Schools Monument in each capital city to honour residential school survivors, and all the children lost to their families and communities. The design of the Spirit Garden revolves around Turtle Island and offers dedicated places for contemplation, celebration, and ceremonies – open, inclusive, and welcoming to all. The fully accessible site includes a reflecting pond, a Two Wampum walkway, a Voyageur canoe, an Inukshuk, and a timber-frame Teaching Lodge.