Ontario is represented by several Indigenous groups that spread across Canada’s largest province, namely: Ojibway, Cree Delware, Potawatomi, Oneida, Mohawk, Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga and Tuscarora(1). Métis and diverse Indigenous nations from across Canada will also be represented in Ontario, often due to the large variety of college and university options to study.
The annual autumn international imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival was developed in 1999 by founder Cynthia Lickers-Sage(4) and support from Vtape and various community partners to celebrate the latest film, video, radio and new media works by Indigenous peoples. The forum created by imagineNATIVE is regarded the world over as one of the most important Indigenous film and media events for screenings, panel discussions, cultural events to attract filmmakers, media artists, buyers and industry professionals. The diverse representation of the worlds Indigenous nations at the festival illustrates the vitality and excellence of contemporary media in art and culture(5).
Former Executive Director of the Association for Native Development in the Performing and Visual Arts – ANDPVA Oneida actor Graham Greene has made his mark as an accomplished Indigenous theatre and film actor. Graham will be best recognized as the Academy Award nominee in his role of Kicking Bird in the Hollywood blockbuster Dances with Wolves. Graham’s career spans nearly four decades and he has countless successes and awards in theatre and in major Hollywood productions. In 1997, Graham garnered peer recognition as the National Aboriginal Achievement Arts and Culture Award recipient(6).
A major influence in filmmaking and founder of the renowned De-ba-jeh-mu-jig Theatre Company on Manitoulin Island, Ontario Dr. Shirley Cheechoo from Bay Cree First Nations is truly a patient storyteller who has won numerous awards as a film director, writer, actor and visual artist. A true creative visionary, Shirley has made it her life’s work to communicate diverse emotions through her filmmaking, television and theatre skills. While Shirley is a coveted mentor, she continues to break new ground for future generations to find their voices in her role as president of Spoken Song film production-company and as the founder of Weengushk Film Institute on Manitoulin Island that will train, develop and guide independent filmmakers. Dr. Shirley Cheechoo has been duly honoured by her peers as the 2008 recipient of the National Aboriginal Achievement Arts and Culture award(7).
This article is a non-comprehensive and living document that provides an overview of artistic activities in the region. It will be revised as necessary as part of our ongoing process of continuous updates.
1) http://www.aboriginalcanada.com/firstnation/dirfnont.htm
4) http://www.imaginenative.org/page.php?p=history&y=2008
5) http://www.imaginenative.org/page.php?p=profile&y=2008
6) http://www.naaf.ca/html/g_greene_e.html
7) http://www.naaf.ca/html/shirley_cheechoo_e.html