News

Native Women in the Arts is proud to introduce the winner and five shortlisted recipients of the 10th Annual Barbara Laronde Award

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 Northern Ontario by creating connections, professional development, and performance opportunities through our programming initiatives. 

This year’s award winner is Amber Waboose, who will receive a $5,000 prize and be featured on our website in the coming weeks.

Each of the shortlisted artists—Emily Granville, MJ Singleton, Grace Swain, Chevaun Toulouse, and Colleen Toulouse—will receive a $1,500 award in recognition of their outstanding work and artistic promise.

Winner: Amber Waboose

Amber Waboose (Odemin Mkwaa Kwe) is an Ojibwe artist from Batchewana First Nation, Ontario. She practices various art forms, including porcupine quillwork on birchbark and two-dimensional and diverse arts. Through her quillwork, Amber creates both jewelry and visual art. Nature often inspires her designs, featuring birds, flowers, berries, bees, moths, fish, and various animals. She harvests and processes all the materials used in her quillwork. Being in nature gives her peace and a deep connection to her culture. Amber’s work is grounded in the philosophy that everything in the universe is interconnected. A common theme in her paintings is interconnection, depicting the lands, water, sky, and stars. After her introduction to quillwork, you will see elements such as birch bark and sweetgrass in her artwork. Her paintings draw inspiration from her personal experiences, ceremonies, and dreams.

Shortlist: Emily Granville

Emily Granville is an Odawa-Cree musician from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory on Manitoulin Island. After attending Cambrian College for Music Performance in piano, Emily is now graduating from the Bachelor of Music program at Laurier. Emily has an interest in composition, collaborative performance, and ethnomusicology from an Indigenous lens. Most recently, Emily has performed, directed, produced and composed their own piece through the Paprika Theatre Festival, performed at the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards, and volunteers as a piano teacher for the Community Music School of Waterloo Region. Emily is excited to be furthering their education in the MA Ethnomusicology program at The University of British Columbia in the fall.

Shortlist: MJ Singleton

MJ Singleton is a two-spirit Ojibwe artist from Eagle Lake First Nation in the Kenora District. Their artistic repertoire consists of painting, digital illustration, beading and sewing. MJ’s designs for the university’s orange shirts for Truth and Reconciliation Day 2023 and 2024 raised over $54,000 for the Orange Shirt Society, striving to amplify Indigenous voices, and igniting meaningful dialogue towards reconciliation. MJ is a fourth year student at University of Toronto Mississauga, double majoring in Psychology and Criminology, Law & Society. 

Shortlist: Grace Swain

Grace Swain is an Indigenous advocate, artist, and communications professional from Swan Lake First Nation on her father’s side (Treaty One, MB) and Wiikwemkoong First Nation on her mother’s side (ON). She creates Woodland-style art inspired by her Anishinaabe roots and is passionate about breaking down barriers for Indigenous artists. Grace curates art for Café 4 Good in Sault Ste. Marie, supporting Indigenous youth, and serves on the Creation Advisory Circle for Indigenous Youth Roots (IYR).

Shortlist: Chevaun Toulouse

Chevaun Toulouse is an Anishinabekwe from Sagamok Anishnawbek and a member of the Ginoozhe (Pike) clan. Growing up in Sagamok gave her an interest in and respect for the environment, as much of her youth was spent trying to catch turtles and snakes in the swamp. Whether snatching snakes or catching turtles, it was on the land interacting with reptiles and amphibians that she found her passion. She recently graduated with an Honours BSc in Indigenous Environmental Studies and Biology from Trent University, building on previous education in conservation, Indigenous environmental leadership, and naturalist research.

Shortlist: Colleen Toulouse

Colleen Toulouse is Anishinaabe from Sagamok Anishnawbek. She is an educator, journalist, and a proud grandmother of two boys. Colleen has written numerous articles for local newspapers, been published in magazines and books, and enjoys writing poetry and short stories. Her most recent story, The True Reflection of the Magpie and the Seed is featured in Indigenous Voices of Canada: Heart, Hope and Land, published by the International Human Rights Arts Movement Literary Magazine Press. Colleen values First Nations stories as a source of learning and understanding her culture. She continuously embraces her life-long learning journey.

We once again extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winner and shortlisted recipients of this year’s Barbara Laronde Award. If you’d like to support the next generation of emerging Indigenous women and gender-diverse artists, please consider donating to the Barbara Laronde Award.

Native Women in the Arts Welcomes New Administrative Director

There have been some exciting changes at Native Women in the Arts lately. We are delighted to announce that Melissa Johns has joined our organization as Administrative Director!

Melissa Johns (Kanien’keha:ka and French Canadian) is a new media artist, educator, and arts administrator, born and based in Tkaronto. Bringing a wealth of experience from her work with organizations such as imagineNATIVE, NIMAC, and the National Film Board of Canada, she is also a practicing artist with a passion for harnessing technology to tell powerful stories.

Melissa Johns is succeeding Ariel Smith who held the position of Artistic and Managing Director from 2018-2023, and Interim Administrative Director from 2023-2025. Ariel is stepping down from her position to focus on family and her own artistic practice in the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh peoples in Vancouver. The organization expresses its deep gratitude to Ariel for her contributions and visionary leadership during her tenure at NWIA.

In her new role as Administrative Director, Melissa will be responsible for coordinating the daily operations of the organization, as well as grant writing, fundraising, and financial management.Please join us in welcoming Melissa to her new position!

“I’m incredibly excited for this opportunity with Native Women in the Arts. This work resonates deeply with who I am and what I am passionate about supporting. I’m looking forward to bringing new ideas and energy to an organization that plays such a vital role in supporting Indigenous women and gender-marginalized artists. In a time when our very existence is under threat, this kind of work and representation is vital. I’m deeply grateful to Ariel, Quach, and the NWIA board for their trust and confidence in me.” – Melissa Johns, Administrative Director

Native Women in the Arts looks forward to thriving under Melissa’s guidance, and continuing to empower Indigenous artists across Turtle Island and beyond.

Native Women in the Arts presents the Kwe Performance Series: Voices, on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the TD Music Hall, featuring Mare Advertencia, Bobby Sanchez, Dioganhdih, and Kimiwan.

Kwe Performance Series: Voices, is a culturally dynamic event that amplifies the perspectives of Indigenous women and gender-marginalized artists. Through a carefully curated lineup of performers including Mare Advertencia, Bobby Sanchez, Dioganhdih, and Kimiwan. Each featured artist brings their own lived experiences, cultural influences, and activist work to the stage, using their craft as a means of resistance, empowerment, and connection.

Through musically immersive soundscapes, this series highlights the ways in which Indigenous artists navigate identity, challenge colonial narratives, and advocate for social change. Whether through Mare Advertencia’s sharp political lyricism, Bobby Sanchez’s approach to gender and decolonization, Dioganhdih’s restorative rematriation methods, or Kimiwan’s sonic storytelling. Voices creates a platform where Indigenous experiences are acknowledged, centered, and celebrated. 

Kwe Performance Series: Voices

Saturday, March 22, 2025, TD Music Hall, 178 Victoria Street, Toronto

General Admission – $25, Indigenous Discount Code: VOICES25

Doors 7PM, Show 8PM – 11PM

Tickets on Sale Now

Mare Advertencia

MARE ADVERTENCIA (rapper, zapotec, feminist, and immigrant) is one of the most important Rap references in Mexico: since 2003 she has independently developed her project, she is self-taught, and self-manager. 

Rap has allowed her to build her story and question her reality, dealing with uncomfortable issues on three productions, multiple collaborations, and projects as diverse as Narrativas y Memorias de la Desaparición en México (2021) (Narratives and Memories of Disappearance in Mexico), the album Un Canto Por México, Vol. 2 (A Chant for Mexico) of Natalia Lafourcade, and the soundtrack Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), in which she collaborated with Vivir Quintana on the song “Árboles bajo el mar” (Trees under the sea). 

She has claimed different political identities through her songs since the beginning of her career ; her voice has amplified and questioned the present reality based on a narrative that evolves constantly. Earlier, her work was more socially oriented, with collective questioning; as of now, she carries out a more introspective process, a process of grief and healing that allows her to embrace all her facets and to build up her new album.

Her path is not defined by a series of hits, rather by reaching places where she still walks while her voice, impact and work is recognized, through two decades; she establishes connections and carries out political and social actions outside of the music scene. She has given workshops at the Escuela para la Libertad de las Mujeres en Oaxaca (School for Freedom of Women in Oaxaca), she has collaborated in projects as the Colectivo Altepee in Veracruz, and she has managed spaces for women and dissents in Mexico City, this will soon grow into a label in which women’s work and dissents in music will make themselves visible.

Bobby Sanchez

BOBBY SANCHEZ (she/they) is a 29 year old poet, musician, model, painter, and personal trainer. Bobby identifies as trans as well as two-spirit in honor of her Indigenous ancestry. Her music and artwork cover topics of indigenous identity, environmental issues, LGBTQ+ discrimination and liberation on all fronts.

Some of her biggest accomplishments have been participating at the 2018 National Poetry Slam in Chicago, Performing at 2023 NYC Pride, 2024 Oakland Pride, Tulsa Pride, featuring in The July 2024 Issue of National Geographic, 14th annual Two-Spirit Powwow, and releasing 8 EPs since March 2021.

Dioganhdih

DIOGANHDIH (They/She) is a two-spirit Mohawk of Akwesasne, musician, MC, producer, and multi-disciplinary artist. Dioganhdih speaks on navigating and finding home through landback, rematriation, decolonization, and sovereignty work across Turtle Island. Dioganhdih’s art reflects the ever present and ongoing importance of honoring your individuality while being committed to uplifting your people and community. They are currently engaged in food sovereignty work across Haudenosaunee territory with their land based project, Iron Path Farms. 

Dioganhdih self released two albums, Do it Ourselves (2017) & Rezbien (2021), and currently is working on their next studio album. They have performed internationally at Club Gretchen in Berlin, Asinabka Film & Media Festival in Ottawa, House of Vans in Brooklyn, Women’s Audio Mission in San Francisco, the SoundCloud Summer Party in Berlin, Pride Toronto, The Art House in New Orleans, on the frontlines at Oceti Sakowin Standing Rock, in countless DJ booths, stoops, bodegas, rooftops and park benches.

Dioganhdih’s music has been reviewed in The Fader, CBC Music, Afropunk, BitchMedia, APTN’s Digital Drum.

Kimiwan

KIMIWAN is an Indigenous DJ, model, and fashion stylist based in Toronto. She made her debut in 2021 ‘Indigenous Grooves’, which celebrates Indigenous women and nonbinary artists in Toronto, along with sets at TD Music Hall and Toronto Pride, and a feature in Vogue Magazine. She skillfully uses her platform to amplify Indigenous voices and merge cultural heritage with modern creativity, leaving a lasting impact in both the music and fashion industries.

Kwe Performance Series

Voices 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.

City Hall Live Bridges

Kwe Performance Series: Voices, is presented and supported through Allied Music Centre and the City of Toronto City Hall Live Bridges, a new program dedicated to building relationships with venues to amplify local grassroots promoters who represent Toronto’s exciting and diverse live music culture.

This City Hall Live Bridges partnership was formed based on research facilitated by the City of Toronto with local promoters from equity-deserving groups, whose results highlighted that the most requested music facility to work with was Allied Music Centre – Toronto’s new music hub that is home to legendary Massey Hall, TD Music Hall and a new community theatre. 

Allied Music Centre

Allied Music Centre is Canada’s new state-of-the-art cultural ecosystem featuring the legendary Massey Hall and three additional venues, all devoted to live music, artist development, community outreach, and educational programming.

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 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.

    NWIA NOW ACCEPTING FUNDING APPLICATIONS FOR INDIGENOUS VISUAL ARTISTS MATERIALS PROGRAM

    Native Women in the Arts (NWIA) is thrilled to join other Indigenous organizations across the province as a new recommender for the Ontario Art Council’s (OAC) Indigenous Visual Artists’ Materials (IVAM) program. IVAM supports Ontario-based First Nations, Inuit and Métis artists working in the visual arts, crafts or traditional/customary Indigenous art forms by providing Grants of $500 or $1000 help cover the cost of buying art materials and supplies.  As a recommender NWIA will receive and assess IVAM applications from artists and make recommendations to the OAC for funding. Recommended applications are then forwarded to OAC for payment directly to the artists.

    NWIA will review applications on an ongoing basis starting in September until January 31st, 2025, or until our allocated budget for the IVAM program is spent (whichever is first).

    ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS
    The Ontario Arts Council supports Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit, and Métis) creativity and celebrates the vitality of diverse cultural and artistic expression. This program is for Indigenous applicants only. In the application you will be required to state your Indigenous nation and community and clearly speak to your lived experience. Indigenous OAC staff members administer the program, and all applications are assessed by Indigenous organizations.

    In keeping with a mandate to advance Indigenous cultural and artistic expression by Indigenous women and other Indigenous gender marginalized folks, recommenders NWIA will prioritize supporting First Nation, Métis and Inuit Women as well as other gender marginalized people though this program. NWIA respects trans women as women and uses the term gender marginalized to be inclusive of transfeminine people who may not identify as women, trans men and transmasculine people, Two Spirit, non-binary and gender queer people. 

    ELIGIBLE ART FORMS
    Art forms include, but are not limited to: basketry (birch bark, black ash, willow, etc.), beading, birch bark work, carving, drawing, drums, rattles and instruments, glass, hide tanning and fur processing, installation, jewelry, leather work, metal work, mixed media, moccasin making, painting, photography, pottery, printmaking, quillwork, sculpture, textile art (embroidery, quilts, weaving, etc.),regalia, traditional tattooing, tufting, woodworking (snowshoe making, tamarack goose making, etc.)

    Please refer to the Indigenous Visual Artists’ Materials web page for details on eligible applicants and expenses. https://www.arts.on.ca/grants/indigenous-visual-artists-materials

    APPLICATION PROCESS

    1. Artists look at the Ontario Arts Council – Indigenous Visual Artists’ Materials webpage and choose a suitable recommender to apply to from the list of Ontario Arts Council – Recommenders for Indigenous Visual Artists’ Materials

    2. Artists fill out an application form through the OAC’s online application platform Nova and submit it to the recommender of their choice.

    3. Recommenders review and assess applications 

    4. Recommenders submit assessments to OAC  (NWIA will asses applications as they come in and submit our recommendations to OAC within 30 days of receiving the application from artist.)

    5. OAC notifies artists of their results through Nova.

    6. Awarded artists enter their SIN number and acknowledge their notification letter in Nova.

    7. OAC mails grant cheques to artists.

    Applications for funding through the IVAM program must be submitted by artists through OAC’s online grant application system Nova. Before applying artists must create an online profile in Nova. 

    Your application will include:

    1. Your answers to application questions

    2. The name of the recommender you are applying to (for example NWIA)

    3. Artistic examples – images or video documentation of your own (8 images maximum)

    4. Artist resumé (optional but recommended)

    Complete instructions and details on the required elements of an IVAM applicatio can be found within the application itself in Nova.

    OAC can arrange offline submissions for persons with limited internet access, and oral applications for Indigenous persons if requested. For additional information, read the Alternative Services and Application Processes page or contact the IVAM program administrator Maggie Lucas mlucas@arts.on.ca 437-538-3626 Toll-free in Ontario: ​​​​​​​​​​1-800-387-0058


    CONFLICT OF INTEREST
    Artists who have a conflict of interest with a particular recommender  organization may not apply to that recommender. An artist is in a conflict of interest if they are: an employee or board member of the recommender organization, a member of a committee or jury reviewing IVAM applications for the recommender, or an immediate family members of those described above.
    DEADLINE
    The 2024-2025 Ontario Arts Council’s Indigenous Visual Artists’ Materials program (IVAM) is now open and closes January 31, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. ET. NWIA will review applications on an ongoing bases until January 31st, 2025, or until our allocated budget for the IVAM program is spent (whichever is first).

    NWIA CONTACT
    Contact Artistic Director of Native Women in the Arts- Quach George at events@nwia.ca if you have any questions about NWIA as a recommender, or regarding eligibility and eligible art forms for the IVAM program.

    NINTH ANNUAL BARBARA LARONDE EMERGING ARTIST AWARD WINNER AND SHORTLIST ANNOUNCED

    Native Women in the Arts is pleased to announce the shortlisted nominees and winner of the 9th Annual Barbara Laronde Emerging Artist Award: 

    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 Northern Ontario 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 9th Annual Barbara Laronde Award are Lucia Laford, Amber Waboose, Sara Kanutski, Leslie Neshkiwe, and Acadia Solomon.

    The Winner of the 9th Annual Barbara Laronde Emerging Artist Awards is Mishiikenh Kwe Autumn Smith.
     

    Mishiikenh Kwe

    Mishiikenh Kwe (Turtle woman, Autumn Smith) is an Anishinaabe woodland artist from the caribou clan, and a member of Magnetawan First Nation. Her research based practice revolves mainly around using art as a way to remember what she has learned and to help teach others. Autumn’s main inspirations are stories passed on from her grandmother and moments taken directly from her own lived experience as an Anishinaabe Kwe.
     

    Saabe Dream c.2023

    Mishiikenh Kwe was selected from a number of nominees from across Northern Ontario. NWIA’s Artistic Director, Quach George remarked: “ On behalf of the Board and staff of NWIA, we are thrilled to present this award to Mishiikenh Kwe and to recognize her commitment to the development of her artistic practice. We are confident that Mishiikenh Kwe 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 Mishiikenh Kwe with a $5,000 cash prize and to acknowledge each of our shortlisted nominees: Lucia Laford, Amber Waboose, Sara Kanutski, Leslie Neshkiwe, and Acadia Solomon with a $1,500 prize. A huge congratulations to all!”
     

    Mishibizhiw and the Canoers c.2022


    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.
     

    Rest c.2022

    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.