IndigeDIV 2017

IndigeDIV is a dance and conversation series held on Indigenous Creative Territory. Hosted by Raven Spirit Dance congruent with the Dance Centre’s biennial Dance in Vancouver (DIV), the series brings artists, presenters and audiences together to discuss, share and witness how Indigenous artistic expression is a vital part of our community and it’s deeply rooted values are the foundation that can hold us all up. There is a circle under all that colonization built, RSD invites you to sit in these circles to listen and share.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Keynote: Bob Baker and Michelle Olson
Bob Baker (Squamish Ancestral name is S7aplek, Hawaiian name is Lanakila) is co-founder and Spokesperson for Spakwus Slolem (Eagle Song) the most reputable Dance Group of the Squamish Nation. Michelle Olson is a member of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation and the Artistic Director of Raven Spirit Dance. Her work as a performer and creator embraces dance, choreography, theatre, storytelling and community development.

Circle Conversation: Building Meaningful Relationships
How are meaningful relationships built between presenters and Indigenous artists? What is the depth of these relationships and how can bone deep change shift the infrastructures we work in to better support Indigenous expression in the arts community? This discussion between attendees and panelists; Cole Alvis (Métis-Irish/English heritage from the Turtle Mountains in Manitobah), Lindsay Lachance (Anishinaabe ancestry), Joyce Rosario (PuSh Festival) and Donna Spencer (Firehall Arts Centre) will walk us through a consideration of our responsibilities as presenters with our curatorial visions and how this contributes to our evolving community and artistic landscape. Moderator, Holly Bright, Crimson Coast Dance Society, Snuneymuxw Territory, Nanaimo, BC.

Sharing: Works in Development with Michelle Olson, Jeanette Kotowich, Olivia C. Davies, and Jessica McMann
This is a sharing of works in progress by Vancouver Indigenous dance artists Featuring: Dynise Brisson, Olivia C. Davies, Margaret Grenier, Jeanette Kotowich, Jessica McMann and Michelle Olson.

Film Screening: Confluence + Circle Conversation: How you do anything is how you do everything – embedded values
Confluence is the gathering of Indigenous women in the rehearsal room, through the creative process we find meaningful connections to build scaffolding in which to hang our thoughts, desires and impulses as Indigenous dance artists. Margaret Grenier, Starr Muranko, Jeanette Kotowich, Michelle Olson and Yvette Nolan came together to research in this shared space. Ulla Laidlaw was invited into this process as film director & camera operator as one of our goals was create a short film on Indigenous process. We discuss what values does one hold in the creative process and how does that shape the outer expression of the work created? Artists will share how their values (personal/collective/cultural) influences the way in which they work and shapes their performances.

Panelists: Yvette Nolan, Su-Feh Lee, Ulla Laidlaw, Yvonne Chartrand
Moderator: Michelle Olson

Circle Conversation: Creative Process
What values do our bodies carry into our art, what process’s do we employ to create and in what frameworks do we present our work? The artists from the works in development will be sharing their insight on these questions.

Panelists: Michelle Olson, Margaret Grenier, Jeanette Kotowich, Olivia C. Davies, Jessica McMann, Dynise Brisson