REMAPPING INDIGENOUS PRESENCE ON STAGE

Get an international perspective on the indigenous presence on stage with this indigenous-led discussion where artists from Sweden, Canada, Australia and New Zealand share their ideas and experiences. How do indigenous artists express their identity and connection to their land through performing arts? How is indigenous art funded and managed at the national level? How can indigenous artists connect and collaborate at the international level? What role can culture play in the reconciliation process?

Discussion arranged by the embassies of Canada, New Zealand and Australia

Speakers:

SANDRA LARONDE

A highly accomplished arts leader, innovator and creator, Sandra Laronde (Misko Kizhigoo Migizii Kwe) which means “Red Sky Eagle Woman” in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibway) language is a multidisciplinary artist and founding artistic director of Red Sky Performance. She is from the Teme-Augama Anishinaabe (People of the Deep Water) in Temagami, northern Ontario, and based in Toronto, Canada.

Since founding Red Sky in 2000, Sandra’s vision is to lead in the creation, elevation, and evolution of contemporary Indigenous performance. Sandra drives her passion unwaveringly to elevate Indigenous arts while playing a pivotal role in the ongoing Indigenous cultural resurgence of Canada. For three decades, she has created an extraordinary body of work with exceptional collaborators that has led to powerful arts experiences elevating the ecology of arts and culture in Canada while strengthening an international presence.

Her company has delivered over 2,955 performances across Canada including international performances in 17 countries on four continents, including two Cultural Olympiads (Beijing and Vancouver), World Expo in Shanghai, Venice Biennale, and Jacob’s Pillow, among others. At the same time, Red Sky remains deeply rooted and invested on a grassroots level and regularly perform in urban, rural, and reserve communities across Turtle Island (Canada and the USA).

Active in diplomacy, Sandra has represented Canada at international platforms including UNCEDED Voices at the Venice Biennale, two Cultural Olympiads (Canada and Beijing), 2018 Canadian Heritage’s first Creative Industries Trade Mission to China and 2022 Trade Mission to Europe, and as Official Delegate and Speaker at the ASSITEJ World Congress in Soweto.

She is the author of her first novel, “She Holds Up the Stars” for the mid-school reader which will be available in August 2022 and published by Annick Press.

JACOB BOEHME

Jacob Boehme is a critically acclaimed theatre maker and choreographer, from the Narangga and Kaurna Nations, creating work for stage, screen, large-scale public events and festivals. Jacob is the newly appointed Director, First Nations Programs at Carriageworks, Australia’s largest multi-arts centre.

Alumnus of NASIDA College of Dance and the Victorian College of the Arts, (MA in Arts – Playwriting, MA in Arts – Puppetry) Jacob has led the artistic direction of Tanderrum (Melbourne Festival), Boon Wurrung Ngargee (Yalukit Willam Festival), Thuwathu (Cairns Indigenous Arts Fair), Geelong After Dark and was the founding Creative Director of Yirramboi Festival, recipient of the 2018 Green Room Award for Curatorial Contribution to Contemporary and Experimental Arts. Jacob is the writer and performer of the critically acclaimed solo work Blood on the Dance Floor, recipient of the 2017 Green Room Award Best Independent Production.

Jacob is an Australia Council for the Arts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Fellow and has been a member of International Advisory Committees for the Calouste Gulbenkian UK Inquiry into the Role of Arts Organisations, the Ministry of Culture Taiwan South East Asia Advisory Panel and the Global First Nations Advisory.

Jacob is currently developing The Wild Dog Project: a multi-disciplinary exhibition and gathering, connecting dingo stories and songlines between South Australia, Northern Territory, Far North Queensland and South East Asia, as part of Tarnanthi Festival in 2022.

TUPE LUALUA

Tupe is an artist that combines her passion for community, social justice and Siva Sāmoa to consistently create influential works of art. She has served as a passionate teacher of movement and culture in various spaces, holding three key teaching roles across Wellington. They include her current role as the Senior Tutor of Movement and Creative Practice at Toi Whakaari: New Zealand School of Drama since 2020; Lecturer of Performing Arts at Whitireia New Zealand 2009-2019; and also as interim Lecturer at Victoria University for Pacific Studies - PASI 101: The Pacific Heritage in 2017, where she was hand-picked by the late Associate Professor Dr Teresia Teaiwa to lead this class. In addition, she teaches in various spaces throughout the Wellington region and engages with communities from all walks of life. This includes local schools, community groups, international representatives, government organisations and inside the justice system.

As the Artistic Director of Le Moana Arts and the annual Measina Festival (established 2014), Tupe identified a significant gap in the arts sector for services and resources dedicated to emerging Pacific artists. As a result, Le Moana was created and today serves as an integral springboard for cutting edge theatre. Tupe was most recently awarded the Contemporary Artist Award for the Creative NZ Arts Pasifika Awards 2021.

EDDIE ELLIOTT

Eddit Elliott is from Aotearoa/New Zealand. A 2013 Performing and Screen Arts graduate of Unitec, Eddie is a dancer and choreographer whose career has led him all around the world. Eddie has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career including the iconic Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative and the 2014 I Am Auckland Awards, which won him the Youth Active Award. In 2015, James Cook High School named a recognition award for students in his honour, the Eddie Elliott Award for Outstanding Contribution to Dance. Eddie has worked with leading arts companies in New Zealand including Atamira Dance Company, Black Grace, Okareka Dance Company, Auckland Theatre Company, Douglas Wright and The New Zealand Dance Company.

In 2017, Eddie was awarded the Eileen May Norris scholarship and Toi Tipu Toi Rea grant for the associate artist programme. This allowed him to build an extraordinary Indigenous relationship with Red Sky Performance in Canada where he has gone on to facilitate, dance, teach and choreograph throughout the traditional territory of many nations across Turtle Island (North America). He is currently now in his fourth year as an associate artist with the company.

Eddie’s reputation has been built on the success of cultural, highly accessible and relevant productions he has been a part of such as the opening of the 150th Canada Day celebrations and the opening of the 2017 World Masters, performing alongside one of the most recognised Kapa Haka groups In the world - Te Waka Huia. Eddie was also part of the opening Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival’s inaugural The Land on Which We Dance programme – his second time performing at the iconic American festival.

Eddie has choreographed and collaborated on works that have been recognised as profoundly moving and raw. His choreographic career includes: I’ll Stand Outside (2012), with performances in the Great Lakes, Ontario, the South Island of New Zealand and Rarotonga; Kia Tau (2019) with performances in Macau; and two works for Unitec ‘s graduation season - Kei konei au (2013) and In-tuition (2018). His work In-tuition then went on to tour New Zealand and Canada.

Eddie has strengthened his identity and aspirations as a proud indigenous choreographer, and has used his current trimester development Uku - Behind the Canvas as his anchor. It is with excitement that Eddie is utilising what he has gathered and experienced from around the world to re-imagine and prosper for the future.

Moderator:

ÅSA SIMMA

Åsa Simma was born into a nomadic reindeer herding family, migrating between north Sweden and Norway depending on the season.

She was taught the traditional Sami singing called "yoik" , during that time yoiks was forbidden. She was part of the movement to diminish the yoiking ban. She left for Denmark where she took an actors education.

Åsa Simma has been very active in the global indigenous peoples movements. She has toured among Australian Aboriginals, lived with Inuits from Greeenland and Native American Indians.

Worked as a film dramaturgist  and  script developer at the International Sami Film Institute. Presently she is the head of the Sami Theatre.