Aboriginal artists, entertainers prominent part of The Works

Indigeneity, a Calgary-based Aboriginal arts collective, was recently featured at The Works & Design Festival, in Edmonton.

The theme for the 13 day event, which ran from June 21 – July 3, was Energy II Collaboration.

“The Indigeneity Arts Collective Society fits this theme, with their contemporary art and new media work,” said Dawn Sanders Dahl, director of programs and marketing.
Indigeneity is an artist-run collective that promotes emerging, mid-career and established artistic talent aspiring to produce professional contemporary art, video, multimedia, performance, installation and community-based projects.

As well, Indigeneity supports radical artwork and thinking towards contemporary Indigenous art through diverse disciplines and is dedicated to the support of the contemporary First Nations and Indigenous art and new media.

Members of Indigeneity participated in demonstrations, lectures, informal dialogues throughout the festival, which was open to the public free of charge.

Along with Indigeneity, the 27th annual Works & Design Festival included other Aboriginal exhibits, artists and programs that coincided with National Aboriginal Day on June 21, which was also opening night for the festival.

Otenikan Leadership Academy is an organization that teaches Aboriginal youth traditional culture braided with art and media. In honour of National Aboriginal Day, OLA raised a tipi, led a prayer and had artworks by the youth displayed inside the tipi for the duration of the festival.

Métis artist Leah Dorion erected a lobstick pole in honour of Eleanor Garneau, an original Edmonton Métis resident.
The opening night had the Electric Pow Wow entertaining the visitors on Churchill Sqaure at the Works Stage.

Other notable Aboriginal artists who took part in National Aboriginal Day included Red Power Squad, People’s Poets, Wab Kinew, Nik 7 and Jaycie Jayce and Tribe called Red.

“Along with the stunning and unique Aboriginal art exhibits, The Works presented approximately 250 diverse special events, workshops, demonstrations, discussions and performances that feature 500 international, national and local artists,” said Dahl.

She added that the festival was good exposure for all artists and performers with attendance  well over 250,000 thousand visitors thanks to the beautiful weather.

The Arts & Design Festival was founded in 1986 and assists in promoting awareness and appreciation of contemporary art and design.  The Works Festival runs for 13 days annually and works to create a unique temporary environment through programming and alternative exhibition spaces.  Through its programming, The Works aims to draw new and diverse audiences into Edmonton’s downtown core to celebrate art and design.