There are few people more committed to the promotion and development of Indigenous talent in the performing arts then Rosalie Daystar Jones. As an adjunct faculty member in the Indigenous Performance program at Trent University, she uses unique curriculum she developed alongside the director of the program, Professor Marrie Mumford, and has recently been recognized for her work in the field.

The Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA), an institute close to Professor Jones’ heart where she’s taught and choreographed, has presented her with a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution and major success with the institute.

“I have promoted native talent all my life. This Lifetime Achievement Award comes through the IAIA, a place where students from all over North America gravitate in order to study Indigenous approaches to all mediums of art, while working toward their undergraduate degrees. I feel that my work at Trent University with the Indigenous Performance Studies program is an extension of the work I began at IAIA,” said Prof. Jones. “It is a wonderful honor to receive this award at this time in my life.”

With Prof. Jones’ career spanning over 50 years, she has taught at a number of institutions from elementary to university level, and also in cultural and community settings. Prof. Jones’ teaching process takes theatrical ideas and develops and choreographs them for individual and group training in expressiveness while still giving respectful attention to the tribal community and tradition. Prof. Jones will travel to Santa Fe this month to receive the award.