Trent University Welcomes Ode’min Giizis Festivities, June 20 – 24
Indigenous arts celebration rooted at Trent University and supported by academic traditions
The annual Ode’min Giizis Festival has strong roots at Trent University dating back thirty years, celebrating contemporary Indigenous arts, and will take place June 20 to 24, 2012, at venues at Trent University and in downtown Peterborough.
The seeds for Ode’min Giizis were sown in 1982 at an Indigenous theatre celebration in which theatre companies from six continents performed Wshkiigimongaki (Curve Lake First Nation), Trent University and various locations throughout Peterborough. Now officially in its fifth year, the Festival brings together emerging and established artists from Canada and beyond in a variety of disciplines including theatre, music dance, storytelling, visual arts, and performance arts.
“Trent University has a rich tradition of supporting Indigenous arts,” said Marrie Mumford, associate professor of Indigenous Studies and Canada Research Chair in Aboriginal Arts and Literature at Trent. “We are pleased to continue that tradition by hosting and sponsoring events at this year’s Ode’min Giizis Festival.”
The Ode’min Giizis Festival is presented by O’Kaadenigan Wiingashk Collective (OKW) and Public Energy. The founding members of OKW are all graduates of Trent University’s Indigenous Studies and Cultural Studies programs.
The festival kicks off on Wednesday, June 20 at the Art Gallery of Peterborough with jiigbiing: at the edge where the water and earth meet, a visual art exhibit and gaabinjigabaa’aang:…where we came ashore, site-specific dance performance sponsored by Indigenous Performance Initiatives in association with the Department of Indigenous Studies at Trent University.
Other festival events supported by Trent University include:
A conference of the Trainers Caucus of the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance to be held at Traill College on June 21 and 22. The keynote address will be delivered by Marrie Mumford, associate professor of Indigenous Studies at Trent University, Canada Research Chair of Aboriginal Arts and Literature, and artistic director/producer of Nozhem: First Peoples Performance Space at Trent University.
Weskeyjack, a play by assistant professor of Indigenous Studies Paula Sherman, produced by Mazinaw Rocks Productions in partnership with Indigenous Performance Initiatives in association with the Department of Indigenous Studies at Trent University. Performances take place June 22 and 23 at Nozhem: First People’s Performance Space at Trent University.
A performance of The (Post) Mistress, a play by Tomson Highway, supported by the Pine Tree Lecture Series in conjunction with the Department of Indigenous Studies and the First Peoples House of Learning at Trent University. It will be held at Market Hall on June 21, 22, 23 and 24.
About Trent University
One of Canada’s top universities, Trent University is renowned for encouraging the dynamic interplay of research, teaching and learning, which enhance and energize each other in the classroom and beyond. The University is consistently recognized nationally for faculty who maintain a high level of innovative research activity and a commitment to the individual student. Trent distinguishes itself through excellence in the humanities, social sciences and natural sciences as well as professional and graduate programs. Trent is dedicated to preparing students to make significant contributions to an increasingly complex world by providing them with a distinctive liberal arts, science or professionally- focussed education, which is enhanced by global perspectives, experiential learning and interdisciplinary approaches to personal and professional development. Trent’s Peterborough campus boasts award-winning architecture in a breathtaking natural setting on the banks of the Otonabee River, just 90 minutes from downtown Toronto. Together with Trent University Oshawa Thornton Road Campus, Trent draws excellent students from throughout the country and around the world.
About Ode’min Giizis Festival
Ode'min Giizis (pronounced o'DAY-min GHEE-zus) is the sixth moon of the Anishinaabe calendar. It marks the beginning of summer, the longest day of the year, and the harvest of the strawberry in June. The Ode'min Giizis Festival celebrates this auspicious time of year and traditional Anishinaabe territory with a five day multi-disciplinary arts festival in Peterborough, Ontario featuring local and visiting artists from the four directions. Please visit www.okw-arts.ca/festival.