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Thirst Nation is a queer artistic event series that prioritizes and elevates queer Indigenous folks who are Trans, 2 Spirit or IndigiQueer from across Turtle Island and neighboring nations to the south. The series has functioned as a cabaret, talk-show, and now an immersive artistic party centered on joy, celebration, sexuality and queer expression. 

After the success of their first event ‘Thirst Nation: Chill’ at the Rhubarb Festival hosted by Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Native Women in the Arts is proud to present ‘Thirst Nation: Dusk’ on Saturday, March 30, 2024, from 8PM – 12AM at the TD Music Hall, 178 Victoria St, Toronto.

Featuring up and coming DJ Gussyee, with performing artists Indigibabes Burlesque – Bitchtina Columbitch, Salty Bay, and Nenoo Freebird. Local starlets Janis Jameson, fox L’amour, Daisy Badcock, and Thrasher. With Ottawa’s Caligula and your hosts for the evening; ‘Canada’s Them Fatale’ Tygr Willy and ‘Mother of the House of Indigibabe’s Burlesque’ Madam Ode’miin Surprise.

Step into the seductive thrivance of Thirst Nation: Dusk, a tantalizing soirée set to ignite the TD Music Hall with an evening of Indigi-queer euphoria. Surrender to a symphony of sensuality and explore the depths of desire amidst a tapestry of leather, wetness, blue hues, fiery oranges, and the enchantment of sunset. Join us as we revel in the allure of our theme, where artists and guests alike are urged to immerse themselves fully.

Tickets Are on Sale Now!  

General Admission – $30, Indigenous Discount Code: DUSK24 
 

TYGR WILLY

Don’t worry babes, Tygr Willy burnt down Neverland and saved all those thotty Faeries. Tygr Willy is Canada’s Them Fatale sure to leave you tongue tied. They’re part of the illustrious K-POP Drag Girl group ‘the Rice Queens’, and the group has toured to Ottawa Capital Pride and Calgary Pride this past summer 2023. They’re notorious for producing such events as; Thirst Nation, Our Flag Means Queer, Passion Fruit, Colour Me Now, and Drop Deadly Gorgeous: the Pageant.  All events prioritizing the Drag, Burlesque, Club Kid nightlife scene focusing on gender expansive and racialized artists.

DJ – GUSSYEE

GUSSYEE is an Indigenous DJ, producer and artist residing in Tkaronto whose work is a multidisciplinary queer approach to challenging coloniality and environmental destruction while emphasizing the sovereignty of two-spirit bodies. Expressing individuality across cultural practices is an important part of the artistic process for GUSSYEE, subversion, strife and confrontational imagery expressed through indigenous beliefs creates dialogue between the artist and their approach to conceiving art.

GUSSYEE is an up-and-coming force in queer nightlife, recently becoming a resident DJ at Houndstooth Bar with their BYOV event. Furthering their practice, GUSSYEE is premiering INFERNO – a demonic inspired queer rave that is specifically curated for trans and 2spirit identifying individuals on March 21st at Drom Taberna.

MADAME ODE’MIIN SURPISE

The creator of IndigiBabes Burlesque. Madame Ode’Miin Surprise is the mother of Babes, an auntie, artist, and educator. Madame is truly like a craving for strawberries on a warm summer evening, mouthwatering and sweet with a little tartness that will always leave you wanting more!

SALTY BAE

Member of IndigiBabes Burlesque, Salty Baby hails from the rocky shores of the Bay of Islands, Newfoundland. They bring the salty Atlantic Ocean with a side of sass! Be prepared to get wet!

MX. CALIGULA

Caligula (they/she) is a 23yo métis drag artist based in Ottawa. A student of the game for over 3 years now, Caligula’s drag is all about blending the smart and the stupid together in a high energy, choreo-filled, and out of the box package.

When not hosting their monthly show, Caligula’s Cabinet of Curiosities, you can find Caligula working on wild mixes, designing visuals for their numbers or scurrying around your local thrift store like the gremlin they truly are. 

As a former Mx Capital Pride winner, Caligula’s goal is to highlight the diverse beauty of non binary drag.

THRASHER

Thrasher is a distressingly stunning mixed Indigenous and European, Queer, classically trained dancer and aerialist. In her almost 15-year burlesque career, she has performed on national and international stages, including Vienna and Montreal, as a solo performer, and she is ½ of the Dynamite Duo TnT. She regularly appears in Toronto at Live at The Funktion, produced by Sweet Rosie Mae. She has also performed with Bootleggers Burlesque, Legacy Cabaret, Les Femme Fatal Women of Colour Burlesque and many more! She has appeared in TV commercials and the feature film Becoming Burlesque, directed by Jackie English. You won’t be able to take your eyes off of her as she commands the stage.

Thirst Nation

Thirst Nation is an Indigenous Queer and 2-Spirit cultural impact that bridges the artistic communities with shared or allied sexuality, gender expansion and creative expression. First created as a late-night talk and cabaret formatted show during the 2020 lockdowns, the show was created by Anishinaabe/Chinese/White mixed raced artist Tyler J Sloane under the name “Thirsty 2 Spirit Tuesdays” through the Glad Day Lit and Twitch Platform. Due to the viewership of the show and the ability to bridge folks from across Turtle Island and the Tri-Nations, the show rebranded to Thirst Nation with Weird Alice assisting administratively . The design and format created by Tygr Willy, the duo brought on Performance Artists in the forms of; Burlesque, Clown, Clown, Drag, and Stand-up. The show held a beacon for bringing positivity and uplifting audience members of Indigenous background and allied communities. The show continued from 2020 to 2021 where it culminated in its online format during the 2021 Pride Toronto Hybrid Festival.

This new era of Thirst Nation now launches into an in-person gathering of artistry, expression, and pride. Tygr Willy brings a new team: multidisciplinary Filipinx Canadian artist Alexi Pedneault/Kuya Atay with initial consultation by T’ànchày Redverse/Midnight Wolverine – a multidisciplinary performer, writer, and Draglesque artist, Riley Kucheran – a fashion designer and reIndigenizing scholar who recently helmed the successful ‘Unceded Dancefloors’.

Kwe Performance Series

Thirst Nation: Dusk is presented as part of the Kwe Performance Series which showcases Indigenous women and other gender marginalized Indigenous artists from diverse nations, and communities, leading to a deeper understanding and appreciation for Indigenous arts, culture, and community. 

The Kwe Performance Series events include performances and workshops for the community in Toronto as well as outreach to on-reserve and under-serviced communities in Ontario.
 

Native Women in the Arts (NWIA)

Established in 1993, Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) is a not-for-profit organization for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and other Indigenous gender marginalized folks from diverse artistic disciplines who share a common interest in culture, art, community and the advancement of Indigenous Peoples. 

NWIA Presents unique artistic programming while developing, supporting, and cultivating practices in the performing arts, literary arts and publishing, visual arts, customary arts, and community development projects. NWIA’s influence has been felt in communities across Canada. We nourish and transform our communities by pursuing the highest standards of artistic excellence, and by offering development opportunities to emerging artists. 

Accessibility Information

• TD Music Hall is wheelchair-accessible
• Private, barrier free washrooms are available at TD Music Hall.
• There is no parking at TD Music Hall, however accessible parking is available in adjacent buildings.
• TD Music Hall offers special (priority) access. Advance booking of this service is not required. However advance booking may be done by emailing: frontofhouse@mh-rth.com.
• A limited number of courtesy wheelchairs are also available at TD Music Hall. Advance booking of this service is not required. However advance booking may be done by emailing: frontofhouse@mh-rth.com.
• Support persons who are accompanying guests with special needs are welcome at TD Music Hall. All guests, including support persons, must have a purchased ticket to attend a performance or event.
• Service and support animals are welcome at TD Music Hall. Service animals should have either a visible indicator, or an identification card or letter from a healthcare practitioner confirming that the customer requires the animal for reasons relating to a disability. You may contact the box office at: contactus@mh-rth.com to ensure suitable seating is reserved.
• Patrons are discouraged from wearing scented products however we cannot guarantee a scent-free environment.
• Certified First Aid, Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Automated External Defibrillator (AED) service providers are on duty for every event. Please contact any usher if these services are required.
  
  Tygr Willy Photography by: Kikki Guerard

The Barbara Laronde Emerging Artist Award recognizes outstanding emerging Indigenous (Status and Non-Status First Nations, Métis, Inuit) artists from Northern Ontario who are women or otherwise gender marginalized (transfeminine, transmasculine, non-binary, gender non-conforming, Two Spirit). NWIA recognizes the specific barriers that many Northern artists face, and we aim to support Indigenous artists from the North by creating connections, professional development, and performance opportunities through our programming initiatives. 

Each of the five shortlisted nominees will be acknowledged with a $1,500 award and the winner will receive a prize of $5,000. The winner and their work will also be featured on our website.

The shortlisted nominees for the 7th Annual Barbara Laronde Award are:

• Faith Turner
• Naomi Desrochers
• Ruby Thompson
• Lynsey Kapera
• Cherly Suggashie 

The Winner of the 7th Annual Barbara Laronde Emerging Artist Awards is:
 

Candace Twance

Candace Twance is from the Ojibway community of Netmizaaggamig (Pic Mobert First Nation), located along the northern shore of Lake Superior. She currently raises her family in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Her art practice is based on mixed-medium abstract painting, heavily informed by Anishinaabek thought, philosophy, and wisdom. Choosing materials that were traditionally valued and prized by Anishinaabek people, including beads, copper, fur, shells, and actual beadwork pieces, Candace incorporates these cultural artifacts into her work to acknowledge their historical use and to honour them. Her work has a close connection with the land, often basing composition on landforms, waterways, and landscapes.

As she describes, “it’s about physical, material, tangible things – and hard work; a lifestyle on the land. This is how my ancestors lived, and it’s about where I’m from. My work is also about transcending the physical realm, alluding to the concept of cellular memory. The spiritual teaching is that there is more to life than the physical realm. When I’m creating layers in my work, using mirrors, and creating veils of lines, I’m alluding to this idea of realms. In a way, it’s also about our bodies, as Anishnaabek people. Our bodies are holding that connection to land and place, always.

Candace has earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and has most recently completed her undergraduate degree in Psychology.
 

Storm Dreamer Kwe, c. 2022
Acrylic Paint, Oil Stick, Canvas

Candace Twance was selected from a number of nominees from across Northern Ontario. NWIA’s Artistic Director, Ariel Smith remarked: “ On behalf of the Board and staff of NWIA, we are thrilled to present this award to Candace Twance, and to recognize her commitment to the development of her artistic practice. We are confident that Candace has a great future ahead of her and wish her, the shortlisted candidates, as well as all of the nominees the very best in their endeavors. NWIA is excited to support the continuing creative and professional achievements of Candace Twance with a $5,000 cash prize and to acknowledge each of our shortlisted nominees: Faith Turner, Naomi Desrochers, Ruby Thompson, Lynsey Kapera, and Cherly Suggashie with a $1,500 prize. A huge congratulations to all!”

Cloud Moving Away, c. 2021
Acrylic Paint, Paper, Charcoal, Oil Pastel, Canvas

About the Barbara Laronde Award

The Barbara Laronde Award was created to honour the legacy of NWIA founder Sandra Laronde and her vision and commitment to Indigenous artists. It celebrates and acknowledges the career of one outstanding, emerging, Northern-Ontario based Indigenous Gender Marginalized artist, recognizing the geographic and economic barriers that many Northern artists face. Sandra Laronde’s 19 years of leadership at NWIA paved the way for many Indigenous artists at various stages of their careers. The award is named after her mother, Barbara, who has been the backbone of her family and a leader in the Northern Ontario community, Temagami First Nation. Barbara inspired her children to be creative and entrepreneurial, and it is with this spirit that NWIA launched this award.

Prayers Up, c. 2019
Acrylic Paint, Canvas

About Native Women in the Arts (NWIA)

Established in 1993, Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) is a not-for-profit organization for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Women and other Indigenous Gender Marginalized Folks from diverse artistic disciples who share a common interest in culture, art, community, and the advancement of Indigenous Peoples. 

NWIA Presents unique artistic programming while developing, supporting, and cultivating practices in the performing arts, literary arts and publishing, visual arts, customary arts, and community development projects. NWIA’s influence has been felt in communities across Canada. We nourish and transform our communities by pursuing the highest standards of artistic excellence, and by offering development opportunities to emerging artists.

Native Feminisms with Natani Notah co-presented with Indigenous Creation Studio, Saturday, March 26, 2022, online from 1 PM – 4 PM EST. 

Artist Natani Notah will examine the present-day and historical roles of Indigenous women, their intellectual work, feminine aesthetic traditions, and the relevance of contemporary art and performance through text, media, and online discussion for two events on March 26, 2022. The Reading Group Afternoon Tea Session, 1 PM – 2 PM EST, followed by a TalkBack Session for Indigenous Artists 2:30 PM – 4 PM EST. 

Pre-registration required. Please note there are two separate events to register for. Zoom link to register:

https://utoronto.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZYrceGorjotEtUVOlSAcoPQxD0dB7qBrZyW

Natani Notah (www.nataninotah.com) is an interdisciplinary artist, poet, and graphic designer. She is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation (Diné) and of Lakota and Cherokee descent. Inspired by acts of decolonization and Indigenous feminism and futurism, her work explores contemporary Native American identity through the lens of Diné womanhood. By way of fragmented abstraction, bodily scale, and the marrying of natural and synthetic materials, her work provokes conversations about what it means to be a colonized individual in the present-day USA. Notah has exhibited across the U.S. and is currently a 2021-2023 Tulsa Artist Fellow. Notah holds a BFA and minor in feminist, gender, and sexuality studies from Cornell University, and an MFA in art practice from Stanford University.

Indigenous Creation Studio (@indigenouscreationstudioutm) aims to transform institutional models of trust-building and strengthen Indigenous peoples in their homelands resourcefully through art. Initiated by Maria Hupfield, Canada Research Chair in Transdisciplinary Indigenous Arts, and is housed within the Institute of Communication, Culture, Information, and Technology at the University of Toronto Mississauga.

Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) is one of the leading arts organizations in Canada for Indigenous women and other gender marginalized Indigenous artists working at the intersection of customary and contemporary practices. NWIA serves as a site of artistic exchange, encouraging dialogue between artists and audiences about social, cultural, and political issues and their relationship to artistic expression.

This award recognizes outstanding emerging Indigenous (Status and Non Status First Nations, Métis, Inuit) artists from Northern Ontario who are women or other-wise gender marginalized (transfeminine, transmasculine, non-binary, gender non-conforming). You can nominate yourself or another artist. The winner will receive a cash prize of $5,000 and up to 5 shortlisted artists will receive prizes of $1,500 each.
 

Eligibility

• Must be 18 years of age or older
   
• Must be an Indigenous person living in Northern Ontario (Métis, Inuit, Status and Non-Status First Nations peoples).
   
• This award is for women and other gender marginalized folks. NWIA respects trans women as women and uses the term “gender marginalized” to be inclusive of not only women but also trans men and other transmasculine, transfeminine, non-binary, Two Spirit and genderqueer folks. Cis-gendered, heterosexal men are not eligible for this award.
   
• Must be at the emerging stages of artistic career. NWIA defines an emerging artist as:
  • In the early stages of their career, regardless of age
  • Has created a modest body of work
  • Has had some evidence of professional achievement but may not yet have a substantial record of accomplishments.
  • One who is not yet recognized as an established or mid-career artist by other artists, curators, producers, critics, community members, and arts administrators.

• Open to all artistic disciplines including:
  • Traditional/Customary Arts (Beading, Carving, Quillwork, Tufting, Weaving)
  • Visual Arts (Painting, Drawing, Sculpture, Installation and Performance Art)
  • Performing Arts (Dance, Music, Theatre) 
  • Media Arts (Film, Video, New Media)
  • Literary Arts (Prose, Poetry, Creative-Nonfiction, Spoken-Word)

• Live in one of these geographical regions in northern Ontario:
  • Kenora District 
  • Algoma District 
  • Cochrane District 
  • Manitoulin District 
  • Nipissing District
  • Parry Sound District 
  • Sudbury District 
  • Timiskaming District 
  • Rainy River District 
  • Thunder Bay District
     
• All eligible artists are encouraged to self-nominate.
   
• Individuals can also nominate an eligible artist they feel deserves this award.

Please ensure your nomination includes all of the following items:

• Artist Resume or CV
• Short bio up to 250 words max
• Maximum 1 page letter outlining why you, or the artist you are nominating, should receive this award.
• Images, audio, written or video support material of your artwork. Please do not send more than 10 individual files or any originals. 
• Maximum 1 page letter of support from the nominator or in the case of a self nomination, a letter from someone who is familiar with the nominee’s career in the arts. 

Nominations Open: October 30th, 2021

Nomination Deadline: December 31, 2021

Value of Award: $5,000 for prize winner/ $1,500 for up to 5 shortlisted nominees

Award Jury: * NWIA Board of Directors

Our Vision for Award: To support and celebrate the achievement of Indignous gender marginalized artists from Northern Ontario, and to provide financial support and career enhancing opportunities to encourage their continued excellence.

The Impact: The Barbara Laronde Award is given in the spirit of fostering the careers of emerging artists from Indigenous (on and off reserve) communities in Northern Ontario. NWIA recognizes the specific barriers that many Northern artists face, and we aim to support Indigenous artists by creating connections, professional development, and exhibition opportunities through our programming initiatives.Since 1994, NWIA has delivered theatre, dance, music, and spoken word presentations, exhibited visual and media arts, and published three books of Indigenous visual art and writing. We also hold community-driven artist talks, workshops, commissions and symposiums. Our programming is offered to diverse audiences in Toronto and Northern Ontario.

Please share this call on Facebook, Twitter, and by email to family and friends!

Please submit your nomination directly to Native Women in the Arts at awards@nwia.ca or if you have any questions. 

For more info visit: www.nwia.ca/apply/

*In the event of a  direct conflict of interest with an NWIA board member and a nominee, said NWIA Board member will recuse themselves from the selection process. Examples of direct conflicts of interests include a nominee being a family member, partner, employee or employer of a board member. A board member being from the same community as a nominee, or having worked in collaboration with or curated a nominee in the past would not be considered a direct conflict of interest. 

Native Women in the Arts invites you to join us for a virtual concert presented in partnership with the Music Gallery. This Indigenous circumpolar showcase features performances by celebrated Inuit and Saami artists: Silla and Rise (Nunavut/Ottawa) and Nannaam (Finland). The FREE stream will be available to view on Saturday, March 20, 2021, at 7pm and can be accessed here.
 

Silla and Rise
Juno nominated act, Silla and Rise blend Inuit throat-singing and futuristic dance floor beats. Silla are Cynthia Pitsiulak (Kimmirut, NU) and Charlotte Qamaniq (Iglulik, NU) their name comes from the Inuktitut word “Sila” meaning weather. In respecting and honouring the need to preserve Inuit culture and paying homage to our land and the strong connection to its spirituality, they experience and perform the sounds of traditional and contemporary throat songs. Rise is Ottawa’s Rise Ashen, a Juno Award nominated global-grooves producer, DJ and dancer who has spent his life pursuing the intersection of traditional and futuristic music.

Nannaam
Nannaam, comprised of singer Heli Huovinen, an Inari Sámi artist from Finnish side of Sápmi, has worked with Sámi media and theatre since 2007. Joined by creative collaborator Urayakq, a greenlandic electronic musician/producer and DJ, the two perform Pop music in Inari Saami language.

Native Women in the Arts
Established in 1993, Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) is a not-for-profit organization for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women, and other Indigenous gender marginalized folks from diverse artistic disciplines and communities. 

NWIA supports multi-disciplinary artistic expression by connecting, training and presenting emerging, mid-career and established artists whose work reflects a commitment to art, culture, community, and the advancement of Indigenous people. NWIA serves as a site of artistic exchange, encouraging dialogue between artists and audiences about social, cultural and political issues and their relationship to artistic expression. Our programming connects to a diverse participant and audience base, predominantly in Toronto and Northern Ontario.

The Music Gallery
Established in 1976 by members of the Canadian Creative Music Collective (CCMC), the Music Gallery occupies a unique position within Toronto’s musical ecology that allows us to present, encourage and promote leading-edge contemporary music in all genres. For over 40 years, our mandate to foster innovation and experimentation in music has remained constant, and today, we are Toronto’s pre-eminent presenter of genre-defying concert music.