Jamii's Annual
National Indigenous Peoples Day
Celebrations
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5th Year!
5th Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations
June 21 at 6 pm
David Crombie Park - The Esplanade & Princess St
You are invited to join us for an unforgettable celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day in David Crombie Park!
Host Jim Adams will take you on a journey of uncovery with the unveiling of a photo exhibition by Morningstar Quill (from Pikangikum First Nation), singing and drumming by Circle of Cedar Singers, the unveiling of a new mural on the exterior wall of the St Lawrence Community Recreation Centre by artist Darwin Peters (from Pikangikum First Nation) and tasty food by Tea-N-Bannock Restaurant.
The evening is an opportunity to celebrate the work of Indigenous artists, discover new artworks for our shared space, and deepen your knowledge of Indigenous peoples and their rich culture.
Funders & Sponsors:
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Photos by Jae Yang
Circle of Cedar Singers
The first two-spirit trans group of singers and drummers in Toronto.
Darwin Peters
Darwin is a painter based in Pikangikum First Nation, a community in Northern Ontario. His paintings combine traditional Woodlands art techniques with his own personal experiences and stories. As a result, his subject matter ranges from personal storytelling to pop culture references. When he is not painting, Darwin works at the Eenchokay Birchstick school as a tutor escort to support the young generation of Pikangikum.
Jim Adams
Jim Adams is a multidisciplinary artist and educator who combines his indigenous ways of being with contemporary art and scientific principles. He has worked as an indigenous educator in schools and institutions for the past ten years under his company Red Bear. He carries the DNA of the Swampy Cree and Innu from his paternal grandmother and the Mohawk from his paternal grandfather.
Morningstar Quill
Morningstar Quill is a self-taught photographer who has developed a unique style and approach to photography through years of experimentation and exploration. Born and raised in Pikangikum, she discovered her passion for photography at a young age and has been refining her skills ever since.
4th Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations
June 21, 2022 at 4 pm
David Crombie Park - The Esplanade & Princess St
In honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, Jamii hosted an array of Indigenous artists and mediums on The Esplanade. From live music, and traditional dance and music with EJ Kwandibens and his daughter Sagatay, to drumming with Sara Luey, Tracy Barker, and Maggie Asselstine, storytelling with Monique Diabo, photo exhibit unveiling and panel discussions, hosting by Jim Adams - our community was graced with stories of Indigenous resurgence, resistance and joy.
We paid special respects to our relationships with water through our 2022 theme "Water is Memory" and invite the audience to reflect through discussions on water protection, water teachings, and water as life.
The photo exhibit is showcased at The Esplanade & Princess Street until the early Fall of 2022.
4th Year!
Funders & Sponsors:
Video and Edit by Recro Digital Marketing
Photos by Ana Higuera
"The Red Chair Sessions"
Photo Exhibition
Jamii produced and unveiled a photo exhibition featuring Nadya Kwandibens' work as part of National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations in David Crombie Park. This exhibition, presented from June to December 2022, is a selection of 8 portraits from the wider series called “The Red Chair Sessions”. Watch the video below to learn more about “The Red Chair Sessions” and how it showcases Indigenous Peoples inextricable relationships to the land, ancestral bloodlines and waterways through a striking series of portraits.
Visit The Red Chair Sessions for more information about the photo exhibition!
Video and Edit by Recro Digital Marketing
Credits
Live at the Kisanii Hub Produced & Presented by Jamii
Jamii Team: Isorine Marc, Iris Unlu, Afnan Yakot, Yusra Yacout, Nadifa Daud Mohamed, Maysam Ghani
Host: Jim Adams
"The Red Chair Sessions" Photo Exhibit: Nadya Kwandibens
Live Performer: Red Rhythm & Blues (Aqua Wawaskone, Valentina Morelli, Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuk)
Drummer: Sara Luey, Tracy Barker, and Maggie Asselstine
Dancer: Sagatay Kwandibens & EJ Kwandibens
Storytelling: Monique Diabo
Stage Manager: Julia Beaulieu
Event Photographer: Ana Higuera
Event Videographer: Recro Digital Marketing
EJ Kwandibens
EJ Kwandibens, also known as Anikay-Keesic, is a member of the Loon Clan and is of Northern Woodland Anishiinaabe (Ojibway) of the Waahbiidaahgaah (Whitesand) First Nation community which is a part of the Robinson Superior 1850 Treaty region located 21 hours north of Toronto.EJ has over two decades of work experience for cultural awareness development in healthy living. He has worked across many sectors such as, Educational Institutions, Correctional Services, Social Services, Child Welfare and Mental Health. He advocates the power of change through Indigenous Cultural Modalities.
Jim Adams
Jim Adams is a multidisciplinary artist and educator who combines his indigenous ways of being with contemporary art and scientific principles. He has worked as an indigenous educator in schools and institutions for the past ten years under his company Red Bear. Jim’s mother was a first generation Canadian, her parents having been born in Wales and Kent. He carries the DNA of the Swampy Cree and Innu from his paternal grandmother and the Mohawk from his paternal grandfather.
Monique Diabo
Jim Adams is a multidisciplinary artist and educator who combines his indigenous ways of being with contemporary art and scientific principles. He has worked as an indigenous educator in schools and institutions for the past ten years under his company Red Bear. Jim’s mother was a first generation Canadian, her parents having been born in Wales and Kent. He carries the DNA of the Swampy Cree and Innu from his paternal grandmother and the Mohawk from his paternal grandfather.
Nadya Kwandibens
Nadya Kwandibens is Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) from the Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation in northwestern Ontario. She is an award winning self-taught portrait and events photographer, a Canon Ambassador, and has travelled extensively across Canada for over 10 years. In 2008 she founded Red Works Photography.
Red Rhythm and Blues
Creator of Red Rhythm & Blues, Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone embodies a beautiful mixture of Anishnaabe, Irish, and French heritage. They thoughtfully craft each song from their life experience as an IndigiQueer person of mixed ancestry, accompanied by their gifted queer guitarist, Valentina Morelli and award-winning Métis violinist Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuck. Together they craft soothing medicine music to heal the soul and free the spirit. Rooted in Indigenous storytelling, expressed through the ‘time old’ overcoming of the blues. Enjoy the universal language of love with this trio of magic.
Sagatay Kwandibens
Sagatay Kwandibens, A member of the loon clan. From both Whitesand and Constance lake first nations. She feels it’s of importance to acknowledge both her home communities as they are where her parents are from.
Sagatay Kwandibens is both a jingle dress dancer as well as fancy shawl dancer, today she will be dancing in her jingle dress regalia.
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The Swift Current Singers
The Swift Current Singers are made up of 3 members. Maggie Asselstine, Tracy Barker and Sara Luey. Three Indigenous women who come together to share good medicine through song, and music with their community. They have been singing together for 3 years. "Sara is Cree/Saulteaux from Swan River, Manitoba. A 2 Spirit Kwe, her Spirit names are Spotted Eagle Woman, and Singing Wolf, and is a member of both the Bear and Wolf Clans. She has been a hand drummer for 5 years, sharing song and medicine within the Indigenous community of Tkaronto"
3rd Year!
3rd Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations
June 21, 2021 at 4 pm
David Crombie Park - The Esplanade & Princess St
On Monday, June 21st, Jamii initiated a story-sharing circle in David Crombie Park, with the intent to acknowledge National Indigenous Day and honor the Indigenous peoples on whose land we currently reside.
Jim Adams, Jamii co-President and a member of the Tkaronto Indigenous arts community for many years, and the whole Jamii family, invited community members to listen and reflect as guest Indigenous artists share stories with us.
Guest artists include Kim Wheatley, Sue Croweagle, Jennifer Alicia, Leonard Benoit, and Aria Evans. It was an honor for Jamii to welcome such respected guests in our community.
The event was supported by Canadian Heritage and Canada Council for the Arts | Conseil des arts du Canada.
Photos: Delphy Photography
Funders & Sponsors:
2nd Year!
2nd Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations
June 21, 2020
David Crombie Park
On June 21st, it was our deepest honour to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day in David Crombie Park.
We were blessed with drumming, singing and dancing by Blackfoot Standing, Michele Perpaul, Bri Briskool Marie, Nimkii Osawamick, Danny Mckenna, and Maria Bonaparte.
We are grateful for a beautiful audience to celebrate with us, and glad everyone kept their physical distances with one another.
The event was co-presented with Canadian Stage and supported by Ontario Arts Council and Canada Council for the Arts.
Funders & Sponsors:
Footage by Gillian Mapp / Editng by Laura Dittmann
Photos: Gillian Mapp
1st Year!
1st Annual National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations
June 19 to 21, 2019
David Crombie Park
In June 2019, with the support of Canadian Heritage, we invited one artist from each of the three Ontario communities Jamii is partnering with: Brian Outinen (Wawa/Michipicoten First Nation), Terri-Lynn Brennan (Wolfe Island) and Lucy Strang (Pikangikum First Nation). The artists spent a week on The Esplanade and directly engaged with 300 locals of all ages.
We organized workshops in both Market Lane Public School and Downtown Alternative School; a talk at the St Lawrence Library moderated by Kim Wheatley, with performances by Mahlikah Awe:ri; two talks for seniors taking place in both Crombie park and the St Lawrence Community Recreation Centre in partnership with the SLNA; a talk in the park with youth from the St Lawrence daycare; and one afternoon of celebration in partnership with Young People Theatre featuring IndigenizUS workshop by Lindy Kinoshameg, hoop dance performance by Rhonda Doxtator and a spoken word workshop with Mahlikah Awe:ri.
photos: Isorine Marc & Gillian Mapp
Funder:
