Aboriginal Arts Events and Programming (2009)

  • In January and February 2009, visual artist Greg Staats led Archive Restored, a thematic residency that brought together First Nations artists, curators, art historians, archivists, and critics who explored the sources of strength inherent in the model of the archive.
  • In February 2009, Aboriginal Arts presented The Double Entendre of Re-Enactment at The Banff Centre. Acclaimed curator and writer Dr. Gerald McMaster (Cree) offered fresh insights in a subversive and humorous look at Native participation in historical re-enactment from its roots in 19th century Wild West shows and early 20th century film, to the work of today’s Native media artists currently reinterpreting re-enactment as a means of artistic defiance.
  • In March 2009, a second research forum was held through Aboriginal Leadership and Management at The Banff Centre. It brought together key invited Aboriginal community and business leaders and Aboriginal arts administrators.
  • In April 2009, Aboriginal Arts hosted a group of Aboriginal dancers from Alberta and Ontario in a week-long dance residency at The Banff Centre.
  • On June 12, 2009, Aboriginal Arts at The Banff Centre presented a keynote address from world-renowned Indigenous choreographers Neil Ieremia from New Zealand and Frances Rings from Australia.
  • On June 13, 2009, Aboriginal Arts presented a film screening of Water Flowing Together, a compelling and intimate portrait of one of the most recognized and influential modern ballet dancers, Jock Soto.
  • On June 20 and 21, 2009, Aboriginal Arts presented a unique opportunity for audiences to enjoy excerpts of choreographic work by Neil Ieremia (New Zealand), Frances Rings (Australia), Gaetan Gingras (Quebec), and Santee Smith (Ontario).
  • On June 21, 2009, Aboriginal Arts hosted DiggingRoots at a music concert in celebration of National Aboriginal Day. Fresh, vibrant, and funky, DiggingRoots is a Juno award-winning group who combine traditional Native influences, hip-hop, folk, blues, and roots.
  • In June 2009, Aboriginal Arts held the inaugural Indigenous Choreographers Dance Residency and the first international Indigenous Choreographers Summit. The Indigenous Choreographers dance residency brought 13 dancers from across Canada together with invited choreographers from New Zealand, Australia, and Canada in an unprecedented opportunity to share, stimulate, and strengthen existing choreographic knowledge and capacity.
  • In August 2009, Aboriginal Arts hosted a group of Aboriginal singers from across Canada in a week-long voice intensive residency at The Banff Centre.
  • In August 2009, Aboriginal Arts presented the concert series Diverse As This Land. This showcase of mountain songs ranged from traditional to blues to contemporary electronic with performances by musicians George Leach (Canada), Altai Khangai (Mongolia), and Pura Fé (United States).
  • In September 2009, Aboriginal Arts presented Readings from Aboriginal Writers featuring award-winning writers Lee Maracle, Marilyn Dumont, and Daniel David.
  • In September 2009, Aboriginal Arts hosted the Aboriginal Emerging Writers program in partnership with the En’owkin Centre and the Canada Council for the Arts. The program explored the complex and interdependent relationship of Aboriginal storytelling, culture, and original languages.
  • An Aboriginal Editors Initiative took place at The Banff Centre in October 2009. The goal of the gathering was to develop editorial training and development opportunities for Aboriginal publishers, editors, and writers as a key component of supporting Indigenous literary arts in Canada.
  • From October through December 2009, the Laid Over to Cover exhibit at the Walter Philips Gallery at The Banff Centre featured Salishan weaving, early Canadian Pacific Railway photographs, and mass-produced prints and etchings alongside traditional Coast and Interior Salish weavings by contemporary artists Melvin Williams (Lil’wat Nation) and Keith Nahanee (Squamish Nation).