Organizers of the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) have announced they will be hosting a family day during the festival, which returns to Trent University with five days of theatre, dance, and music performed by independent Indigenous artists from June 21 to 25.
From 12:30 to 5 p.m. on Saturday, June 24th, the festival will host a number of free family activities outdoors by the Enwayaang building (Gzowski College) on the East Bank of the Trent University campus. There will be music and stories, games and craft vendors, information booths, food, and fun.
“Family day activities at NIFF provide an opportunity for the younger ones to experience Indigenous storytelling and music,” says NIFF artistic director Joeann Argue in a media release. “These are the folks in your neighbourhood, sharing the stories, songs and games that Indigenous kids are growing up with today. We invite you to step out of history and discover Indigenous culture as you might not have experienced it before.”
NIFF’s family day begins at 12:30 p.m. with NIFF favourite “Tiger” Will Mason performing songs and sharing stories for the whole family.
At 1 p.m., 3 p.m., and 4 p.m., Tota Tayohseron:tye — a Kanyen’keha:ka (Mohawk) grandmother — will engage with children through interactive stories and songs that encourage the learning of Kanyen’keha (Mohawk language). While her show is geared towards young children and their parents, everyone who is interested in learning Kanyen’keha can attend.
Throughout the afternoon, games and craft activities will be offered by groups such as Sage and Sunshine School.
VIDEO: Tayohseron:tye Nikki Auten – Kanatsiohareke Mohawk Community (2016)
Children 12 years of age and older and their adults are encouraged to stay on for performances of “The Cave that Hummed a Song” at 3:30 p.m. and “Reclaiming in Motion” at 5 p.m. Although the rest of the family day activities are free, these indoor performances at Nozhem First Peoples’ Performance Space are ticketed events.
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.
Local artist Kelli Marshall’s new written word and dance performance “Reclaiming in Motion” brings together her love of movement and passion for cultural reclamation.
Tickets for “The Cave that Hummed a Song” and “Reclaiming in Motion” are $12 plus fees in advance or $12 cash only at the door depending on availability. To purchase tickets, visit www.indigenousfringefest.ca.
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.
