Panel & Event Descriptions
Barbara Laronde Award Presentation
January 17th 6:00 PM
Please Join us as we kick of the INAABANDAM Symposium with the presentation of the 5th Annual Barbara Laronde Award to the 2019 winner, Joe Wood.
Performance with Melody McKiver
January 17th 7:00 PM
Our opening night programming continues with a performance by Indigenous Music Award nominated Anishinaabe musician and composer Melody McKiver.
Catered Reception with Music by DJ Jams
January 17th 7:30 PM
NWIA invites you to celebrate the opening of our INAABANDAM Symposium, and the Barbara Laronde Awards with catered snacks, a bar, and beats by DJ Jams.
Open Teaching w/ Knowledge Keeper Marie Gaudet
January 18th 10:00 AM
Instead of a keynote address, each morning of the symposium will begin with an open teaching from a Traditional Knowledge Keeper or Elder. Join us for tea and listening with Anishinaabe educator and Knowledge Keeper, Marie Gaudet.
Sovereign Airwaves: Indigenous Voices in Podcasting and Community Radio
January 18th 11:15 AM
With: Janet Rogers, Tiio Horne, Teddy Syrette, Melody McKiver
Moderated by: Jenny Blackbird
The origins of Indigenous radio in Canada can be traced to the low-power “trail radio” transmissions of isolated communities in the1960’s, many of whom maintained their sovereignty and self-determination by remaining unlicensed. Now with the potential to reach large international audiences, podcasts have become a natural progression for Indigenous artists and content producers, borrowing from a strong history of “rez-radio”, and Indigenous programming on community and college/university stations. This panel includes both established and emerging radio artists and podcasters who are continuing the oral storytelling traditions integral to so many diverse Indigenous cultures.
Deconstructing Colonial Place-Making Through Language
Saturday January 18th 2:15 PM
With: Joi Arcand, Kaya DaCosta, Susan Blight, Vanessa Dion Flecher
Moderated by: Aylan Couchie
In response to the United Nation’s 2019 International Year of Indigenous Languages, this panel explores artists who are incorporating language into their interdisciplinary practices and artistic outcomes. Whether through intervention, public art or gallery works, we will discuss the importance of language and its use in asserting Indigenous presence upon our shared landscapes.
Gender Marginalization in Film + Media Arts Practices
Saturday January 18th 4:30 PM
With: Renae Maihi, Darlene Naponse, Thirza Cuthand, Fallon Simard
Moderated by: Niki Little
There is an undeniable and well-proven gender imbalance in the Canadian film and television industry, as well as in the media arts sector and community. This imbalance privileges Cis-Men above Women and other Gender Marginalized people. Indigenous gender marginalized people are then even further under-represented, particularly in positions of authority and within certain types of production, such as feature film. This panel will hear from filmmakers and media artists who have successful production and presentation histories and whose practices range from experimental video art, to dramatic feature films. They will share about their practices and how they have navigated inequity in order to create work.
Screening of Warrior Women Documentary
January 18th 7:30 PM
This 64 minute documentary released in 2019 tells the story of Madonna Thunder Hawk, a long time activist and former AIM leader who shaped a kindred group of activists’ children – including her daughter Marcy – into the “We Will Remember” Survival School as a Native alternative to government-run education. Together, Madonna and Marcy fought for Native rights in an environment that made them more comrades than mother-daughter. Today, with Marcy now a mother herself, both are still at the forefront of Native issues, fighting against the environmental devastation of the Dakota Access Pipeline and for Indigenous cultural values. Through a circular Indigenous style of storytelling, this film explores what it means to navigate a movement and motherhood and how activist legacies are passed down and transformed from generation to generation in the context of colonizing government that meets Native resistance with violence.
Open Teaching w/ Elder Laureen (Blu) Waters
January 19th 10:00 AM
Instead of a keynote address, each morning of the symposium will begin with an open teaching from a Traditional Knowledge Keeper or Elder. Join us for tea and listening with Cree/Métis/Mi’kmaq Elder Laureen (Blue) Waters.
Indigenous Curatorial Practices: From State Institution to Artist-Run
Sunday January 19th 11:15 PM
With: Megan Feheley, Jocelyn Piirainen, Raven Davis, Lisa Myers
Moderated by: Rhéanne Chartrand
What does a decolonial curatorial practice look like? This panel will explore the challenges and triumphs experienced by Indigenous curators of Indigenous art. We will hear from curators who claim and occupy space within colonial institutions and from those who are creating community outside of the institutional structure; on developing curatorial practices that incorporate Indigenous protocols, and that inclusively exhibit and involve Indigenous artists and communities.
Artist Talk with Barbara Larond Award Artists
Sunday January 19th 2:15 PM
With: Aylan Couchie, Janelle Wawia, Lucille Atlookan, Caitlyn Bird, Joe Wood.
Moderated by: Ariel Smith
In recognition of the 5th Annual Barba Laronde Award, NWIA is pleased to present an exhibition featuring the work of the 2015-2019 awardees. Join us on Sunday January 19th for an opportunity to hear the artists speak about their work and answer questions from the audience.
Indigeneity as Industry
Sunday January 19th 3:30 PM
With: Mary Lou Smoke, Pam Palmater, Elwood Jimmy
Moderated by: Tanis Neilson
This discussion is centered upon the ethical acquisition and dissemination of Indigenous information. Panelists will share their knowledge of traditional governance/natural laws (ethics) as imagined under a contractual/constitutional agreement; as well as discuss how these ethics/laws could then be applied toward the ‘formal’ creation and implementation of systemic (re)conciliatory policies; as means of securing the safety of Indigenous art/body/culture/knowledge/territory.