Native Women in the Arts is pleased to announce its first annual Round Dance to honour and celebrate Indigenous women in our communities.
The Round Dance will be held on Ryerson University’s campus on Saturday, February 16, 2019, and is being presented in partnership with Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services
NWIA’s Round Dance will include a special showcase with legendary singer Delia Waskewitch, a pipe ceremony, feast, giveaway, and 50/50 draw.
This event is free and open to the public including both Indigenous & non-Indigenous people of all ages.
Please note this is a drug & alcohol-free event.
We welcome you to join us on:
Saturday, February 16, 2019 I 6 PM – 12 AM
Kerr Hall Gymnasium, Ryerson University
379 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON
FB Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/
Elders: Pauline Shirt & Alex Jacobs
Pipe Man: Jimmy Dick
Stick Man: Gabe Gaudet
Master of Ceremonies: Gordon Sands
Invited Singers: Gary Parker, Wayne Moberly, Nathan Roy, Lorne Pawis, Nathan Pelly, Dan Deleary, Jordan Mowat, Rodney Stanger, Nimkee Wemigwans, and Dan Isaac.
All singers are welcome will be acknowledged.
Pipe Ceremony and Feast: 6:00 PM
Round Dance: 7:00 PM
Delia Waskewitch Showcase: 9:00 PM
Late Night Lunch: 10:00 PM
Giveaway: 11:00 PM
A Round Dance is a social gathering with ceremonial aspects hosted during the winter months. It was traditionally used by the Cree Nation as a healing dance. Its original purpose was to heal and also to honor loved ones who had passed on so that families could grieve in the proper way. It is said that when the circle of the Round Dance is made the ancestors are dancing with you.
Today the Round Dance is still a ceremony and is used to honour loved ones who have passed on, but is also a social gathering and is used for all kinds of different reasons, from honouring someone for their accomplishments, or celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, graduations, etc.
Ryerson Aboriginal Student Services – also known by its acronym R.A.S.S. – provides a culturally supportive environment to promote academic excellence and serves as a place to balance academic learning with traditional teachings and culture. R.A.S.S started in 1993 with the purpose of offering peer support, tutoring, cultural, events and many other services geared to develop an Aboriginal presence on campus.
NWIA (Native Women in the Arts) is a not-for-profit organization for First Nations, Inuit and Métis women who share the common interest of art, culture, community and the advancement of Indigenous peoples.
