Wigwam Chi-chemung Powwow Dance Workshop

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Wigwam Chi-Chemung Powwow Dance Workshop

As part of the Summer’s Wigwam Chi-Chemung programming, Myseum of Toronto and Elder Duke presented an online participatory experience examining the significance of dance in Indigenous culture, and an opportunity to learn Powwow dance.

We asked individuals to join us for this family friendly event, which was a unique opportunity to learn about and participate in Powwow dance from the comfort of your own space (home, office, etc.).

“Dance is not only a way to proudly express my identity as a Nehiyaw Iskwew (Cree woman) but is a way of life that has consistently grounded me emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually and has been a great source of strength through times of trauma and grief. For me, dance is healing but is also an expression of freedom, celebration of life and how I choose to honour my culture, friends and family. I’ve been given this gift by my community since I was a little girl and I believe I have a responsibility to share any knowledge of these dances that I have back to the community and am very proud to be a part of the Alberta arts scene that has given me the platform to do so since 2003. Ay-Hay (Thank you) and I hope to continue sharing for many years to come.” -Angela Miracle Gladue

PERFORMERS

Angela Miracle Gladue aka Lunacee, is a Cree/Greek Mother, Dancer and Beadwork Artist from Frog Lake First Nation, who started cultural dancing (metis & powwow) at age 6 and continued her dance career as a Hiphop artist since 2003. She has been invited to perform, teach and speak to countless countries throughout the world and now tours as one of the lead dancers for A Tribe Called Red.

A few of Angela’s major accomplishments include: Choreographing and performing at the 2017 Juno Awards, First place at the Canadian HipHop Championships and World Hip-Hop Championship Bronze Medalist with her crew the FlyGirlz, and recipient of the 2015 Chief David Crowchild Memorial Youth Award for demonstrating outstanding community leadership through Hiphop and Powwow dance. She has also opened up for major recording artists such as TLC, Sean Paul, Lil’Kim, Maestro, Grand Master Flash and Busta Rhymes to name a few.

Nimkii Osawamick is an Anishinaabe dance artist from Wikwemikong, Unceded Reserve located in Manitoulin Island and is a member of the Wolf Clan. Nimkii has been dancing since the age of three years old. Now an active community member in powwow circles, Nimkii is well-known as a singer, hoop dancer, and champion powwow dancer. He has travelled extensively across North America sharing his gift of singing and dancing with the peoples of Turtle Island.

Nimkii is dedicated to the preservation and awareness of his people’s culture and history which is highlighted in his business DNA STAGE: Dedicated Native Awareness which helps bridge the cultural gap between First Nations people and inhabitants.

Elder Dr. Duke Redbird is an established Indigenous intellectual, poet, painter, broadcaster, filmmaker and keynote speaker, he brings his breadth of cultural knowledge and artistic practice to the benefit of a global audience. Dr. Redbird was instrumental in the implementation of innovative multimedia, technologies and beyond, bringing an Indigenous approach to art education that was rooted in his pioneering work at OCAD University. Dr. Redbird’s legacy stretches far beyond his work in Canada. His art has been exhibited and his poetry has been published and translated in anthologies around the world.

He works as a multifaceted artist, practicing across a number of disciplines including literature, painting, theatre, cinema and most recently rap poetry. A well-known Canadian broadcaster and television personality, he is in demand as a keynote speaker in corporate, industry, and educational settings. Dr. Redbird received his Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies from York University in 1978, and his Doctorate from OCAD University in 2013. In 2015 he was featured on, Native North America; a compilation album that was nominated for a Grammy Award. As a poet, essayist and screenwriter, Dr. Redbird has published and performed poetry readings, theatrical productions, video and film, both locally and internationally.

In 2020, the album Refuge was released by the band, Sultans Of String and features the musical version of Elder Redbird’s poem the Power of the Land. Earlier this year Elder Redbird also published, Duke Redbird Poetry.

He has written and directed many dramatic films and documentaries. In 1993, Dr. Redbird was presented the Silver Hugo Award at the Chicago Film Festival for a drama he produced for TV Ontario. For fifteen years, from 1994 to 2009, Dr. Redbird was a familiar face on television as an on air Arts & Entertainment reporter for City TV.

Since 2014, Dr. Redbird has been the Indigenous Arts Consultant for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) and is the Artist in Residence at the Urban Indigenous Education Centre.

In November Elder Duke Redbird will deliver a keynote to faculty and students at MIT in Boston, where he will speak about the creative influence of the Indigenous lens and technology.