Experience powerful storytelling, movement, and cultural connection. From workshops and Experience powerful storytelling, movement, and cultural connection. From workshops and dance to film, this week brings together artists, knowledge keepers, and community to celebrate Haudenosaunee culture and resilience.
March 30 – The Centre for Indigenous Theatre & SASS
Residential Schools: The Art of Survival Through Defiance – 10:30AM – 12:30PM
Day 1 centers on storytelling, resistance, and cultural resilience through film, discussion, and hands-on learning.
Participants will engage with What If… Kahhori Reshaped the World? (2023), an episode that reimagines history through an Indigenous lens. Developed in close collaboration with Mohawk Nation knowledge keepers, including historian Doug George-Kanentiio and language expert Cecelia King, the work foregrounds cultural authenticity while exploring themes of power, identity, and alternate futures.
A keynote talk by Doug George-Kanentiio, an Akwesasne Mohawk residential school survivor, journalist, and cultural advocate, will provide critical insight into the lived realities of residential schools and the enduring strength of Haudenosaunee peoples. His decades of work in media, governance, and advocacy ground this session in both historical knowledge and contemporary resistance.
Corn Husk Dolls Legends and Teachings – 1:00PM – 4:00PM
The day also includes a Corn Husk Doll workshop, where participants will learn the story of the Onę́ste’ doll and create their own piece. This session emphasizes relational responsibility, balance, and the Haudenosaunee concept of the Good Mind (Kanikuhliyó).
The workshop is presented by Dr. Kahawhitha Leah Shenandoah, a Wolf Clan member of the Oneida Nation and Assistant Professor at OCAD University. Her interdisciplinary practice spans visual art, design, music, and scholarship, exploring Indigenous material culture, identity, and resurgence. Her work bridges artistic practice and research, creating pathways for cultural continuity, healing, and creative sovereignty.
March 31 – The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto
Entering the Circle: Haudenosaunee Smoke Dance – 1:00PM – 4:00PM
Day 2 focuses on movement, embodiment, and cultural knowledge through Smoke Dance.
This workshop introduces participants to foundational footwork, rhythm, and timing, while emphasizing respect, awareness, and confidence when entering the dance circle. Designed for both beginners and experienced dancers, the session offers a supportive environment for learning through practice, storytelling, and mentorship.
Led by champion dancers, participants will develop stamina, control, and presence, while gaining insight into the cultural responsibilities carried through dance and participation in the powwow arena.
Facilitators include:
- Tekatsi’tsanèken Everstz, Bear Clan (Kahnawà:ke), a two-time World Smoke Dance Champion who has performed and taught internationally, bringing deep cultural knowledge and lifelong experience in the powwow circle.
- Jennifer Martin, Turtle Clan (Six Nations), an award-winning dancer with decades of experience, committed to mentoring and supporting the next generation.
- Adriel Harjo, a young Turtle Clan dancer from Six Nations, representing emerging leadership and the continuation of Smoke Dance traditions.
Participants will leave with strengthened technique, increased confidence, and a deeper understanding of carrying Haudenosaunee identity within the circle.
April 2– The Centre for Indigenous Theatre
Film Screening & Artist Talk – 11:00AM – 1:00PM
The final day highlights contemporary Indigenous storytelling through film.
A screening will be followed by an artist talk with Jessie Anthony, a Haudenosaunee filmmaker from Six Nations of the Grand River. A graduate of Capilano University’s Indigenous Independent Filmmaking Program, Anthony is an award-winning writer, director, and producer.
Her debut feature film, Brother, I Cry, received multiple awards, including the Audience Choice Award at imagineNATIVE and recognition for Best Screenwriting and Direction. She is also the producer of the Indigenous queer series Querencia and continues to develop work across film and television with major industry partners.
Through this session, participants will gain insight into Indigenous storytelling in contemporary media, as well as the creative processes and industry pathways shaping the next generation of Indigenous filmmakers.
