Festival honors Shawnee leader

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Sculpture, drawing, beadwork and quilts will be among the artwork displayed at the Tecumseh Arts Festival on Oct. 5 and 6 at historic Fort York.

The festival celebrates and honors Tecumseh, the leader of the Shawnee, who with his brother, Tenskwatawa, led the formation of a confederacy of Native nations that played a critical role in the defence of Canada in the War of 1812. Tecumseh was killed in a battle on Oct. 5, 1813 in southwestern Ontario.

The arts festival is organized by the Tecumseh Collective, which is comprised of Aboriginal visual artists.

Entertainment will feature the Eagle Heart Singers, the Iroquois Longhouse Singers, storytellers Duke Redbird and Ron Cook, as well as traditional dancers. Work by eight artists will be displayed throughout the fort's buildings.

"The Tecumseh Arts Festival commemorates the falling of one of the great Aboriginal leaders, who promoted the idea of strength through uniting all Indigenous nations," said sculptor Cathi Charles Wherry.

"As I attempt to translate his message into my contemporary life and work, some of the features of this event underline his vision...At the Festival, I intend to honor Tecumseh by arranging four small earthworks that reference his life, and can be viewed from various windows throughout the site. As a way of highlighting the loss of Aboriginal languages, I intend to place (removable) text on windows throughout the site, naming in my language, (Ojibway) and English, what is seen through that window."

Other artists featured will be Philip Cote, whose grandfather is the great-grandson of Tecumseh. Cote teaches soapstone carving to Native youth and is engaged in exploring the importance of the Shawnee leader's life and spirit.

Rebecca Baird explores First Nations identity in sculpture, print-making and photo collage. Carolyn Cote combines a unique style of ribbon and applique with traditional designs in her quilts, wall hangings, and clothing. Bonnie Devine is a sculpture and installation artist and Ojibway heritage writer and makes her work about language, sometimes imprinting alternative texts on objects.

David Hannan, is painter and sculpture artist. Illustrator and painter Ken Williams has been painting and drawing Native people and their culture for the past 40 years.

Also showcased will be visual artist LauraLee K. Harris and Oscar De Las Flores.

The exhibition will run until Nov. 5. For more information, call (416) 466-5979.