The world’s first Indigenous fringe festival is happening at Trent University this week with stand-up comedy, plays, songs, stories and dancing from local Indigenous artists.

The Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) opened via Facebook Live on Indigenous Peoples Day, and due to pandemic restrictions is offering performances “drive-in style” until June 27 with audience members staying in their cars in Parking Lot X at Gzowski College and tuning into 95.1 FM radio as they watch live performances.

Audiences can watch artists such as Jennifer Alicia perform a one-woman play, "Tiger" Will Mason perform ‘The Music and Stories of a Modern Mohawk’ and comedian Stephanie Pangowish who uses her “sassy” comedy to educate Canadians on Indigenous culture.

Building on Trent’s legacy of Indigenous firsts

NIFF is an Indigenous-led project and Trent is an ideal host as the University has a history of firsts with Indigenous performances including hosting the World Indigenous Theatre Festival in 1982 and creating Nozhem: First Peoples Performance Space - the first and only dedicated Indigenous performance space in North America, says Trent professor and festival co-founder Joeann Argue.

“Our festival is building on that incredible legacy,” says Ms. Argue, an assistant professor in the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University.  

From the moment Ms. Argue came up with the idea, she says the University community has been encouraging and supportive. She first approached Nozhem manager Lee Bolton, who loved the idea of hosting the festival on campus. The Chanie Wenjack School then enthusiastically donated Nozhem, although the scheduled indoor performances had to be moved outdoors due to COVID-19.

As the pandemic also prevented the festival from enlisting billets, the University then offered to house the artists in Gzowski College. The Trent University Alumni Association chipped in by donating tents.

“Everyone has been asking, ‘What do you need and how can I help?’” Ms. Argue says. “Trent has been a wonderful and supportive environment. The local community and Peterborough arts community has also been very supportive. Everyone has really rallied together.”

Mentorship for Indigenous artists
Unlike other Fringe festivals, where companies are left on their own to manage technical needs, Nozhem’s technical director Don White will offer technical mentorship. All performers will also have the option of artistic mentorship with local playwright Drew Hayden-Taylor or Muriel Miguel in a format that includes the mentor’s attendance at rehearsals, script or performance development exercises or other interactions. 

As Indigenous artists tend not to apply to fringe festivals in general, Ms. Argue says, organizers hope this mentorship will strengthen artists’ overall skills and encourage them to apply to future Fringes across the world.

Visit www.indigenousfringefest.ca for more details, including ticket information and a full lineup of events.

Learn more about the Chanie Wenjack School for Indigenous Studies at Trent University and the First Peoples House of Learning.