The Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) 2022 will open on Indigenous People’s Day, June 21st.
The Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival (NIFF) 2022 will open on Indigenous People’s Day, June 21st with a special virtual event. This festival is an unjuried, uncensored festival for independent performers in theatre, dance, music, and comedy.
NIFF is proud to be a member of the CAFF – Canadian Association of Fringe Festivals. “CAFF’s member festivals have worked together for more than thirty years to pioneer a made-in-Canada model unique in the Fringe world. Our festivals are designed to put artists and audiences in direct contact, fostering experimentation and discovery on both sides of the fourth wall. It is a movement for artistic innovation through audience-driven “curation.”
Unlike the fringe movement, NIFF focuses specifically on local and regional Indigenous artists, mentorship, collaborative learning, knowledge sharing, and skill development. NIFF explores workshops that focus on playwriting, direction, storytelling, performance, and community collaboration with experienced teaching artists. The NIFF Knowledge Sharing Project participants have a long history of work in Nogojiwanong with extensive performance, teaching, and administrative experience. NIFF is committed to providing a space for people to experience and embrace the arts and community with an extensive commitment to the development and transmittal of cultural knowledge and creative practice. Throughout the project, artists are supported in leading their own learning. Festival performers are offered the option of mentorship, which can include the mentor’s attendance at rehearsals, script or performance development exercises, or other interactions.
Skill development in production and arts administration are also offered. There are workshops in tour management and “how to Fringe” led by experienced producers like Cole Alvis, Deb Ratelle, and Lee Bolton. Unlike other Fringes, where companies are left on their own to manage their technical needs and work to the very tight schedules of the festival, mentorship is offered to all performing companies by Nozhem Technical Director Don White.
The NIFF Knowledge Sharing Project is fortunate to be supported by an experienced and generous group of teaching artists. Well-known playwright, novelist, and commentator Drew Hayden Taylor has been with the project since the beginning and Muriel Miguel and Deborah Ratelle of the legendary Spiderwoman Theater company have a long history of work in Nogojiwanong and joined enthusiastically in the early stages of planning. The Chanie Wenjack School of Indigenous Studies at Trent University is very supportive of the Festival and the Knowledge Sharing Project and continues to offer opportunities for the sharing of cultural knowledge. The NIFF Collective is made up of women with extensive performance, teaching, and administrative experience. The Knowledge Sharing Project at the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival advances the artistic development of participating Fringe artists as well as other local and regional Indigenous artists, increases the organizational and administrative capacity of participating arts groups, improve the representation of Indigenous artists in the Fringe movement, and beyond, connect artistic and Elders with developing artists and arts practices, and promote Indigenous performing arts in the Nogojiwanong region.
One artist that will be showcasing on June 21st at NIFF 2022, is non other than multi-award-winning, Sean Beaver, who hails originally from the Driftpile First Nation in northern Alberta, currently based out of Calgary. Sean is an independent techno and electronic indigenous artist who is of Cree descent, and has been creating and producing music since 1993, with a sound like a cross between Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, and Tiësto as he uses music as a creative outlet. Sean’s first recorded single was released in 1996 and was globally distributed, since then, Sean has developed and enhanced his skills on the turntables, and is now known for his exciting and energetic performances. As part of distinguished Indigenous hip hop group REDDNATION, Sean toured North America, spreading music and inspiring Indigenous youth. Sean was a key member of the group, performing as DJ Hooligan and serving as tour manager/sound technician from 2002 until the group retired in October 2013. Wanting to go back to his roots, Sean returned to work on original music in 2012. In 2013, Sean released his first original, solo album, Project: Axiom. The album saw critical acclaim, winning Best Instrumental CD at the Aboriginal People’s Choice Awards that summer. His second album, Torn, was released in November 2014 and went on to win Best Instrumental CD at the 2015 Indigenous Music Awards. This album featured singer Sarah Pocklington from the acapella folk group ASANI. Sarah’s ethereal vocals can be heard on “Smooth Sunset (Luminescent Games)” as well as “Torn.” Sean’s third album, NYD aka New Years Day, commemorates his anniversary of ten years living sober. NYD, includes 12 songs of layered melodies and baselines. It showcases ties to his heritage, featuring Indigenous elements such as powwow drums. The album also features newcomer Elijah B., who happens to be Sean’s younger brother, on guitar in “My Spirit Is Rising.” NYD was nominated for the Best Instrumental Album at the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards. Sean continues to work in radio in Calgary, performs across North America, and works on new, original music every chance he gets. Here is just a sample of his magical musical talent from his most recent 2020 14 song album, ELECTRIC TURTLE DREAMS, and his song, Lost In Space. Electric Turtle Dreams was nominated for Rap-Hip Hop-Electronica Album Of The Year at the 2021 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards https://seanbeaver.bandcamp.com/album/electric-turtle-dreams
Look for Sean’s latest music on https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/sean-beaver/640271242
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3bJdtnEF7QD2bxQXjIM2Zb
https://play.google.com/store/apps/theme/promotion_gpm_shutdown_ctp
https://www.shazam.com/artist/43245558/sean-beaver
https://www.emusic.com/artist/SEVENDIGITAL_2666503/Sean-Beaver
https://us.napster.com/artist/sean-beaver
https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/4694742
and so much more! Just visit Sean at https://seanbeaver.com/
https://www.facebook.com/seanbeavermusic
https://twitter.com/djhooligan
https://www.instagram.com/seanbeaver
https://www.youtube.com/c/seanbeavermusic
ARTISTS 2022
Aerial Sunday-Cardinal: Performance Artist
Cedar T: The Haus of T
Classic Roots: Pow Wow Techno
Indigibabes: IndigiBabes Burlesque Show
Indigenized Indigenous Theatre Company: Rocko and Nakota: Tales From the Land
Sarah Lewis: Breathing Love into Poetry
Sean Beaver: Sean Beaver Live
Surrounded by Owls Productions: The Gift
Thamer Linklater: My Time in Foster Care
The Beautiful Canoe Collective: Journey the Beautiful Canoe
“Tiger” Will Mason: Songs and Stories
For event information, you can contact:
indigenousfringefest@gmail.com (705) 748 – 1011 x7220
Snail mail: NIFF P.O. Box 546 Lakefield, ON Canada K0L 2H0
Festival Location:
1 Gzowski Way
Trent University – East Bank
Nogojiwanong/Peterborough, Ontario K9J 8S6
Stay in tune by visiting:
https://www.facebook.com/Nogojiwanong-Indigenous-Fringe-Festival-101565978041258