Name: ArtistSpeak* @ MRU: Indigenous Collaboration
Start: 2025-03-27T17:00:00-06:00
End: 2025-03-27T19:00:00-06:00
Location: Trico Changemakers Studio

The Art for Social Change Network: Calgary Hub and Institute for Community Prosperity presents ArtistSpeak* @ MRU: Indigenous Collaboration
About this Event

*Part talk show, performance and craft gathering. Experience artists in performance and conversation w/ host Kenna Burima followed by a collective craft activity. Craft supplies, and tea and coffee incl!

Doors @ 4:30pm. Event starts @ 5pm @ the Trico Changemakers Studio @ MRU!

ArtistSpeak* is supported by The Art for Social Change Network: Calgary Hub and The Institute for Community Prosperity

Featured Artists:

Join host Kenna Burima as she revisits Ghost River Theatre's Echoes of the Land production which premiered last January as part of the 39th annual High Performance Rodeo. This even features lively conversation regarding the intricacies of Indigenous-led Collaboration with Skip Wolfleg, Traditional Drummer and Knowledge Keeper and Cedric Lightning, Stoney Nakoda Drummer and vocalist. Experience incredible stories, songs, drumming and sharing on creative reconcilation between artists.

Skip Wolfleg: Oki! I am Clarence 'Skip' Wolf Leg Jr., I am a powwow drummer. I was raised on the Siksika Nation, I am currently living in the city of Calgary. I was trained as a Blackfoot Style powwow drummer/singer with over 30 years of experience & have sung with various championship drums over the years. I am also an experienced educator & Interpreter of Blackfoot culture/history, Plains First Nations history, & teacher of Powwow Drumming. I recently worked at the Glenbow Museum as an Educator before Covid shutdowns in 2020. I was recently hired to drum for the Making Treaty 7 Cultural Society Theatre Group for 3 stage productions. I have also been hired to drum or provide teachings as a knowledge keeper throughout the city of Calgary & area since 2013.

Cedric Lightning

Hello, my name is Cedric Lightning, I’m from Morley, AB, ”Mini Thni”. The Stoney Nakoda, which resides just west of Calgary and also Maskwacis, AB, Samson Cree Nation just a few hours north of Calgary. I’ve grown up singing and always pushing myself to sing all styles of powwow and round dance. Singing always helped me in many ways from healing, humour /laughing and heartfelt situations/Grief. Singing to me…is a form of expression. It’s Energy. This is my second time collaborating with GRT, having worked on The Great Alberta Sound Bath Experience. Mixed minds are a beautiful thing.

Kenna Burima

In her adopted hometown of Calgary (Moh’kinsstis, Treaty 7), Kenna Burima has earned a reputation as someone who can turn ideas into big projects, teach the unteachable and inspire people to come together. Since doing her time in the institutional hallowed halls of classical music education, Kenna’s love for all musical forms has driven her involvement in a diversity of projects. From the indie-folk of Woodpigeon and the sweaty garage sludge of Beaver Squadron; grandiose projects abound, nurturing Kenna’s compositional skill and style. Kenna’s solo albums span classical-cabaret-pop-rock and jazz; musical affairs that draw on her vast technical and artistic know-how. The complexities of her songwriting reflect the heart of an artist who is never content to restrict herself to one genre, one project, or one ideal. Her cherished collaboration with Ghost River Theatre continues to offer her unique opportunities to engage with music and sound for community building and collective healing.

Ghost River Theatre

Led by Artistic Director Eric Rose and Executive Director Christy Offer, GRT is a devised theatre company that creates, develops, and produces live performance experiences through a significant investment in imaginative research and experimentation.

Ghost River Theatre is a catalyst for enriching Calgary’s thriving arts community. Our mission is to drive boundary-pushing and immersive creative experiences in original live performance.