She:kon, Tansi, Boozhoo, Aanii!

With the beginning of fall upon us we reflect back on the summer and the amazing Indigenous art that has taken place across Turtle Island. We look forward to the beginning of brand new seasons from many of our members along with IPAA's own growth and development.

After over 2 years of working with IPAA, Coordinator Falen Johnson is moving on to work on her personal artistic goals. We wish Falen well and know that she will remain an important voice in the Indigenous Performance community. Thanks for all the hard work, Falen!

Stepping in for Falen will be Interim Coordinator Cole Alvis. Cole is proud of his Irish, English and Métis heritage and traditions. He currently works as an Artistic Associate at Native Earth as well Artistic Producer at Lemon Tree Creations. IPAA proudly welcomes Cole to the IPAA team.

IPAA is excited to announce that we will be hosting our first ever Indigenous Performing Arts Alliance Intertribal Gathering. The gathering will take place this October 2nd, 3rd, and 4th at Cahoot Theatre's newly renovated space in Toronto.

The Intertribal Gathering will focus on a strategic planning session as well as an Ontario Artist Showcase. Featured works will include a short dance presentation titled The Missing by Sarain Carson-Fox with Cris Derksen, Native Earth's Animikiig and Thundering Voices writers works in development, as well as a presentation of an excerpt of Nôhkom by Signal Theatre's Artistic Director Michael Greyeyes. Come out and have your voice heard at this very important meeting. Click here for a full schedule of the Strategic Planning session. And click here for the facebook event page.

IPAA is also happy to announce that we have moved! We are now located at 585 Dundas St. East, suite 250 in Toronto. Come by and visit anytime!

This summer was buzzing with Indigenous artists taking over the summer festivals. From Jani Lauzon’s A Side of Dreams, Cliff Cardinal’s Maria Get’s a New Life and Camila’s Bones, by Alejandro Valbuena at SummerWorks to Jeff D’Hont’s play A False Face to Nyla Carpentier’s 21st Century Trickster. Way to represent folks!

Saskatchewan Native Theatre Company has announced their new season which includes Water Under the Bridge by Michaela Washburn and Carrie Costello, Mekiwin: The Gift by SNTC’s Artistic Director Curtis Peeteetuce, Réunir by PJ Prudat, and Dreary and Izzy a co-production between SNTC, Gateway Theatre,Western Canada Theatre, and Persephone Theatre. For more info on the national tour of Dreary and Izzy and the rest of SNTC's season click the links.

And a big congrats goes out to SNTC for their 8 nominations for the SATAwards! SNTC garnered 3 nominations for Cafe Daughter and 5 for The Hours That Remain a co-production between SNTC and New Harlem Productions.

A special shout out goes out to Aaron Shingoose for his nomination in the category of Outstanding Emerging Artist. Way to go Aaron!

And speaking of awards... Congratulations goes out to IPAA's board president Yvette Nolan for winning the Jessie Award for Outstanding New Play for The Unplugging. Also, kudos go out to Artistic Director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre Santee Smith for her Dora win for Outstanding Choreography for Susuriwka – willow bridge.

Kaha:wi is also ramping up for a busy Fall season including a tour of Medicine Bear as well as A Story Before Time opening at Young People's Theatre in Toronto. For details on tickets and tour locations click the links.

IPAA board member and Artistic Director of Raven Spirit Dance Michelle Olson was busy earlier this summer presenting Frost Exploding Trees Moon in Dawson City at the Danoja Zho Cultural Centre. Choreographed by Michelle Olson and Floyd Favel. Beautiful work Michelle!

Native Earth Performing Arts has announced its 31st season. This year’s season opens with the always popular Weesageechak Begins to Dance Festival running November 21st - November 23rd. This year’s festival lineup opens with a preview of NEPA’s co-production for the Rutas Panamericanas Festival. On the second night of the fest there will be an offering from Native Earth’s playwright in residence PJ Prudat as well as a look at Jani Lauzon's latest creation. The festival will close with the Animikiig and Thundering Voices showcase so come on out and hear what Indigenous emerging writers are saying. For more info on the festival visit NEPA's website.

Gwaandak Theatre Society is revamping its website but they have given us some details about their upcoming season. On October 18th Gwaandak is hosting a Let's Play Trivia Fundraiser at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre. Come out and test your knowledge of the Yukon's arts and cultural history! Also coming up this season for Gwaandak is a co-production with the Yukon Arts Centre titled Body 13 which is an ensemble creation of MT space.

And speaking of MT Space, don't miss out on the some of the wonderful programming for MT Space's IMPACT 13 Festival in the Waterloo region. Highlights include, Global Savages by Debajehmujig, Voicemale, by Cassandra Cline and Return Home written and performed by Dima Alansari and Quelemia Sparrow. For the full schedule and ticket info click here.

Debajehmujig is also busy this fall with their Six Foot Festival - Out of the Woods, where they celebrate all things made of wood and things harvested from the woods. If you are lucky enough to be on Manitoulin Island don't miss out.

This past weekend Cheri Maracle could be seen on stage in a workshop production of Paddle Song a musical journey looking into the life of Mohawk poet Pauline Johnson. Fingers crossed it will happen again soon! Congrats to the creative team.

And keep checking our website for performance listings, job opportunities and other resources.

Interested in membership? Membership is free. Join us at ipaa.ca.