The third annual Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) returns to Trent University in June with five days of theatre, dance, and music performed by independent Indigenous artists.
The first and only Indigenous fringe festival in the world, NIFF was founded by a collective including Joeann Argue, Lee Bolton, Drew Hayden Taylor, and Muriel Miguel. A member of the Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals, NIFF is an unjuried and uncensored festival where participants send in applications and are chosen by lottery. Performers receive 100 per cent of the box office proceeds.
The festival takes place from June 21 to 25 indoors and outdoors on the East Bank of Trent University, with all indoor performances at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space. The festival also features two free events (advance registration required). Tickets for individual events are $12 plus fees in advance or $12 cash only at the door depending on availability. To purchase tickets or to register for the free events, visit www.indigenousfringefest.ca.
NIFF kicks off on Wednesday, June 21st — Indigenous Peoples’ Day — with a free outdoor gathering from 4 to 6 p.m. on the East Bank of Trent University. Everyone is welcome to attend the gathering, which will include traditional food and entertainment and feature the NIFF artists.
Here’s the line-up of festival performers and performance dates.
“The Cave That Hummed A Song” by Trina Moyan
A powerful and intense one-woman play written and performed by Trina Moyan and directed by Jill Carter, “The Cave That Hummed A Song” was inspired by the philosophical musings of Moyan’s mentor Lee Maracle on life, on being a woman, on blood memory, and on women taking their rightful place in society. Weaving present and past and reflecting on legends and current events, the play reflects the traditional form of oral story keeping and story telling from the heart and in the moment in that, each time the story teller shares it, the story changes and is transformed by the listeners.
This 30-minute play is suitable for adults and older children. Performances take place at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space on June 21 at 7 p.m., June 22 at 9:30 p.m., June 23 at 6 p.m., June 24 at 3:30 p.m., and June 25 at 1:30 p.m.
“The Bridge” by Pesch Nepoose
Written and performed by Pesch Nepoose with director/dramaturge Ed Roy and presented by Toronto’s Centre for Indigenous Theatre, “The Bridge” tells the story of Kara, a young Indigenous woman raised by adoptive settler parents who has been drugged and is being held captive. She knows her abductors, and knows if she doesn’t escape she’ll probably end up dead. The play follows Kara’s treacherous journey of self-discovery, as she struggles to find identity and community while being faced with racial and cultural rejection. In this one-woman show, Kara and the various characters she encounters take the audience through the events that led up to her captivity, and eventually looks to the audience to help her resolve its ending.
This play is suitable for adults and youth 14 years of age and older. Performances take place at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space on June 21 at 8:30 p.m., June 22 at 6 p.m., June 23 at 11:30 a.m., June 24 at 7 p.m., and June 25 at 3 p.m.
“Reclaiming in Motion” by Kelli Marshall
Local artist Kelli Marshall premieres her new written word and dance performance. Marshall has been dancing throughout her life and brings together her love of movement and passion for cultural reclamation in this piece.
This 30-minute performance is suitable for all ages. Performances take place at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space on June 22 at 4 p.m., June 23 at 9:30 p.m., June 24 at 5 p.m., and June 25 at 12 p.m. and 7 p.m.
CANCELLED – “Abatimbo” by Maison Mere Artists
Maison Mere Artists is a youth initiative based in Burundi, a country in east-central Africa whose borders were not determined by colonial rulers. Maison Mere Artists showcases the unknown talents of Burundian youth to the world through live performance, introduces the Burundian culture to the globe through dances, songs, poems, and more, and shares the message of love, harmony, and caring.
Suitable for all ages, outdoor performances take place on June 22 at 5 p.m., June 23 at 5 p.m., June 24 at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m., and June 25 at 12:30 p.m.
“Songs and Stories of a Modern Mohawk Continued” by “Tiger” Will Mason
A NIFF favourite, “Tiger” Will Mason returns to perform mostly original songs as well as songs by friends, and to share stories of the songs and his life as related to the songs. Mason has performed on stages for over half of his life, including as an actor and a professional musician. In 1986, an Anishinabe elder gave him the spirit name “Kahntahwi-wim’tchi’get”, which means “Maker of Beautiful Music”. He combines native contemporary sounds, with bluegrass, Americana/Canadiana, country rock, blues rock, folk, and more.
Suitable for all ages, the 60-minute performance takes place outdoors on June 22 at 7 p.m., June 23 at 9 p.m., June 24 at 12:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., and June 25 at 4 p.m.
“An Indigenous Play” by Julia Ross
Written and directed by Julia Ross from Pinaymootang First Nation, “An Indigenous Play” explores the baggage that comes with being an Indigenous artist. Dakota is having her first art show, but is it what everyone expects of her? After navigating troubles at work, troubles at home, and one crazy uncle, the Indigenous art show must go on. The play will be performed by Juicebox Theatre, a Winnipeg-based group of theatre students from the University of Manitoba who previously performed “An Indigenous Play” once before at the university’s Black Hole Theatre.
Performances of this 60-minute play take place at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space on June 22 at 8 p.m., June 23 at 4 p.m., June 24 at 1:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., and June 25 at 5 p.m.
“Wapikoni: A New Beginning” Program of Indigenous Short Films
On Friday, June 23rd from 7 to 9 p.m. at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space, 13 short films by Indigenous filmmakers will be screened followed by an artist discussion.
The short film program is being presented by Wapikoni Mobile, a non-profit organization based in Montreal that hosts educational workshops and film screenings to raise awareness and educate the wider public about First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people cultures, issues, and rights.
Taking place at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space, this all-ages event is free but advance registration is required.
“Funny, You Don’t Look Like a Doctor” with Dr. Drew Hayden Taylor
On Sunday, June 25th at 2 p.m., NIFF artistic director Joeann Argue will have a discussion with Drew Hayden Taylor from Curve Lake First Nation, a playwright, author, journalist, and newly minted honorary Doctor of Letters. Taylor will discuss his life in the arts so far and his hopes for the future of Indigenous performance, and will read from a selection of his favourite pieces from his long and distinguished career.
Taking place at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space, this all-ages event is free but advance registration is required.
“Leathers and Feathers” by The Johnnys
NIFF wraps up at 9 p.m. on Sunday, June 25th with a one-night-only performance at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space by Ontario rock band The Johnnys. Founded by spouses Veronica Johnny and Dave Johnny, the band is known for delivering rowdy, high-energy, humour-filled shows and have shared stages with Geordie Johnson, Bif Naked, Stevie Salas, Bruce Cockburn, Keith Secola, and Crystal Shawanda. Veronica’s Cree heritage is reflected in the band’s lyric content, with Indigenous influences on topics such as the environment, social justice, and political change.
The Johnnys’ first three independently released albums were all nominated for national music awards and their fourth album Leathers and Feathers garnered international award nominations. Their songs “Time to Shine”, “Have a Good Time All the Time”, and Salas/Gutierrez remixes “Leathers and Feathers” and “Butterfly” all reached top 10 on the Indigenous music countdown.
For more information about the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival, visit www.indigenousfringefest.ca.
