She:kon, Tansi, Boozhoo, Aanii!

It's been a busy few months in the Indigenous performance world and there's a whole lot more coming up this spring and summer. So much amazing and diverse work is being done across Turtle Island!

Full Circles Talking Stick Festival ran from February 19th to March 3rd and it was an amazing time. IPAA hosted it's annual general meeting and got to take in some of the phenomenal programming by Artistic Director Margo Kane and the fantastic team at Full Circle. A big congratulations goes out to Full Circle for another successful Talking Stick Festival.

And don't forget submissions for the next Talking Stick are due May 30th! You can apply here.

And speaking of Margo Kane another congratulations is in order as she is the recent recipient of the BC Community Achievement Award for her work within the arts community. Nicely done Margo!

And speaking of Margo Kane another congratulations is in order as she is the recent recipient of the BC Community Achievement Award for her work within the arts community. Nicely done Margo!

For a full ten days northern artists took over Ottawa for Northern Scene. There was Gwaandak Theatre's production of Justice, written by Leonard Linklater and directed by IPAA board of directors president Yvette Nolan. I Count Myself Among Them, a short story written by Richard Van Camp and adapted and directed by Reneltta Arluk. The National Theatre of Greenland attended Baff to collaborate on Tulugak:Inuit Raven Stories which premiered at Northern Scene. The multidisciplinary work brought together artists from Nunavut, Nunavik and Greenland and was hugely successful and sold out at the festival. To read the full press release of the project visit here.

To see more highlights and the full festival line up check out the Northern Scene website here.

Also coming up in the Ottawa area is this year's Magnetic North Festival. This year's festival runs from June 7th to June 15th and will feature Western Canada Theatre's Production of Michel Tremblay's play For the Pleasure of Seeing Her Again featuring Lorne Cardinal and Margo Kane. VideoCabaret production The War of 1812, written and directed by Michael Hollingsworth and featuring Derek Garza, will also be a part of this year's festival after an extended run in Toronto.

Signal Theatre just had a one night showing of a the new dance piece Nohkom at York University before it premiere's at Banff. Nohkom was choreographed by Signal Theatre's artistic director Michael Greyeyes.

The Centre for Indigenous Theatre has had a big second semester. There was a fantastic March break showing as well as the year end productions, Drew Hayden Taylor's Girl Who Loved Horses, directed by Marion de Vries as well as White Buffalo Calf Woman written and directed by CIT's Artistic Director Rose C. Stella.

Way to go CIT Grads!

And speaking of CIT graduates, Garret C. Smith can be seen in Amy Lee Lavoie's play, Stop Heart at the Factory Theatre in Toronto until May 26th. Check it out if you are in the Toronto area!

Native Earth Performing Arts has just announced their 31st season line up. Season details include the 26th annual Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival, a partnering project with Aluna Theatre for the Rutas Panamericanas|Panamerican Routes Festival, as well as Native Earth's Artistic Director Tara Beagan's much anticipated one woman show Quilchena will round out the 31st season. To view the upcoming line up click here!

NEPA Artistic Director Tara Beagan's play Dreary and Izzy is hitting the road come spring 2014 in a co-production with Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company/Persephone Theatre, Gateway Theatre, and Western Canada Theatre. Stay tuned for more details and ticket info!

We are all very excited to hear about Cliff Cardinal's one man show to run at The National Arts Centre. HUFF written by Cliff will run from April 29th to May 10th 2014. Book early the show is sure to sell out! You can click the image for more information.

And if you can't wait until 2014 to see HUFF you can always check it out at Alberta Aboriginal Arts Rubaboo Festival this June 4th to 16th. All events will take place at C103, 8529 – Gateway Blvd, Edmonton, Alberta.

Festival Highlights Include:

June 4th-8th
HUFF written and performed by Cliff Cardinal
Directed by Karin Randoja, Designed by Elizabeth Kantor

June 8th & 9th
The Canadian Premier of At Home At The Zoo by Edward Albee.
An Alberta Aboriginal Performing Arts original theatrical production.

June 14th
Finding you inner Elder written and performed by Michelle Thrush.

June 15th
Dancing the Universe in Flux written and performed by Troy Emery Twigg. A workshop presentation with direction and dramaturgy by Ed Roy.

June 15th
509 choreographed and danced by Justin Manyfingers with Richard Lee.

June 16th
Family day with afternoon entertainment for the whole family.

Other highlights will include:
Aboriginal Artesian craft market, Hoop Dancing, music nights, professional development classes. Contemporary and Traditional dance. All Please check our website for full festival schedule.

Hot on the heels of their successful tour of Kenneth T Williams Cafe Daughter Gwaandak Theatre will be presenting their 4th Annual Summer Reading Series on June 25th and 26th in Whitehorse. Featured works include Renalta Arluk's Tookoolito, as well as Yvette Nolan's Savage, and Annie Mae's Movement.

It was a big year for IPAA members at the Cannes Film Festival this year. Marie Clements work Pilgrims and Shane Belcourt's film A Common Experience co-written by Yvette Nolan both had showings at the festival. Nice work and congrats to all involved!

In publishing news you'll be able to find Yvette Nolan's The Unplugging as well as Keith Barker's The Hours that Remain out this Spring through Playwright's Canada Press.

And a big congrats goes out to Yvette Nolan for her Jessie Richardson nomination for Outstanding Original Script for The Unplugging!

Congratulations are also in order for Michelle Olson of Raven Spirit Dance. Michelle is the recent recipient of the Vancouver International Dance Festival choreographic award! Way to go Michelle!

It's a busy summer for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. First up this June is the premiere of The Honouring at Historic Fort York before it heads to Woodland Cultural Centre. Then in July and August Kaha:wi's Summer Intensive kicks into high gear. Registration is open now so don't delay! Visit here for more info.

Keep checking back on our website for updates on performances, job postings, and news about what's happening with Indigenous performance. And be sure to check out the 2nd installment of our publication series, Sharing Space.

Are you a member? Join the Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance, and strengthen the network across Turtle Island. To join click here!