nistamîkwan creates collaborative partnerships with artists from diverse cultural backgrounds. The primary intentions are to transform, share and celebrate resonant and dissonant experiences through the creation of new work. Projects are based around performance creation including: music, theatre, poetry, film and movement. Collaborations explore intersections of dialogue: intercultural, intergenerational and interdisciplinary in nature. As such, nistamîkwan emphasizes traditional ways of elder-mentorship by engaging elder voices in the creation of contemporary stories and knowledge sharing, as well as offering platforms for youth voices to be instigators of change.
nistamîkwan co-presents and curates artistic showcases and performances that honour the culmination of collaborative artistic process. Performances are primarily interdisciplinary and intercultural offerings at cultural events and festivals, as well as invitational showcases. nistamîkwan is pleased to work with local and international organizations that offer culturally inclusive programming and celebrate our interwoven histories.
nistamîkwan brings artists from various cultural and artistic perspectives to facilitate workshops with an emphasis on creative expression through personal and collective awareness building. Following teachings of the talking circle and oral traditions of exchange, workshops offer participants hands-on experience in storytelling, collective creation and performance arts. Tradition and technology are central to the workshops, as we explore ways to bridge traditional teachings with contemporary technology. Improvisation and play are essential.
Photo credit: Red Works Photography
Métis multidisciplinary artist Moe Clark is a nomadic songbird with wings woven from circle singing and spoken word. As an educator Clark facilitates writing, vocal improvisation and looping pedal workshops in high schools, communities and with Aboriginal youth. Taking her as far north as Iqaluit to offer intergenerational storytelling exchanges and as far south as Brazil to collaborate inter-culturally, her approach to group facilitation aims to build bridges through empathetic listening and sharing.
Clark has two albums of words and music and a bilingual book of poetry. She has performed and collaborated on numerous national and international stages including Making Treaty 7 (Treaty 7 / Calgary, AB, 2014, 2015) Maelström ReÉvolution Poétique Fiéstival in Belgium (2013 & 2009), IDEA World Congress: Art for Social Change in Brazil (2010), and at the 2014 Canadian Festival of Spoken Word as “Poet of Honour”.
As artistic producer Clark’s directed, produced and performed in a multitude of projects nationally. Acclaimed performance, Transcestral, a musical exchange between indigenous musicians and Sufi musicians has been presented at Presence Autochtone, Théâtre La Chapelle and Festival du Monde Arabe. In 2013 she directed the 10th Annual Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in Montreal, that highlighted Indigenous languages. Other collaborations include Bird Messengers (2009-2011) indigenous theatre performance and workshops with Émilie Monnet (Onishka), and Back to Where My Heart Belongs nêhiyawêwin Cree language songwriting project (2013 - present) with Cheryl L’Hirondelle and Joseph Naytowhow .
As a public speaker she is a sought-after presenter with feature talks at REDxEdmonton Indigenous Talks at Rubaboo Festival (2016) and TedXMontreal (2012).
› www.moeclark.ca
nistamîkwan brings together creators from all walks of life, artistic talent and experiences;
nistamîkwan bridges cultures through inclusive dialogues, circle sharing and collaborative exchange;
nistamîkwan stimulates tools for transformation through collective engagement to inspire personal and community healing;
nistamîkwan builds mutual trust in relationships to catalyze artistic vision and grow with integrity.
Board members |
is a psychologist of Huron-Wendat descent, of the Anishnaabe Abitibiwinni of Pikogan. She works at the Health Centre in Odanak and has a private practice in Montreal. For over 18 years she has been an integral member of the indigenous community of Montreal as a professional worker as well as her social engagement. She has vast experience working in various indigenous communities, with specialization working in areas of intergenerational trauma, conjugal violence and sexual abuse. For many years she’s worked with residential school survivors and their families, as well as the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. She is also founding member of Odaya, an all women indigenous drum group based in Montreal. For three years Anik has been the president for the assembly of Native Women of Quebec.
Marie-Claire Durand is a Montreal-based musician, active as a pianist, vocalist, arranger, as well as composer and teacher (Cégep de Sainte-Foy). She received a Masters in Jazz Composition from McGill University. Accompanied by Joel Kerr on bass and Eric Thibodeau on drums, Durand performs a variety of original instrumental and vocal compositions. Her album Mai, released in February 2011, a collection of eight original compositions for jazz quintet, was featured at the OFF Festival de Jazz de Montréal in 2009, and the Festival On Jazz sous la lune in 2011. Other projects include Takk and Bean (Joel Kerr, Mark Nelson), a free-jazz trio focused on playful and short improvisations, featured at the OFF Festival de Jazz de Montréal in 2012.
www.marieclairedurand.com