Project Nishin Niizh

Project Nishin Niizh (2)

About the Project

In 2020 Fringe North was unable to hold an in person festival due to the pandemic. In lieu of traditional programming, board members Adam Francis Proulx and Sarah Gartshore, seized the opportunity to work together in building an online space where Indigenous artists felt well held enough to, in the midst of a global health pandemic, begin to create again. That space was called Project Nishin. Artists offered one another community and encouragement as they marked that extraordinary time in their lives and shared in one anothers artistic journey's. Project Nishin centered the artists and their varied needs. Elder Nokomis Martina Osawamick provided both Anishinaabemowin translations as well as knowledge about caring for oneself in trying times that helped Oshkaabewisag Adam Francis Proulx, Sarah Gartshore, Jocelyn Dotta and Steven Roste work in a way that was healthy for them and, in turn, for the artists they served. This year we are pleased to announce that Ontario Culture Days has partnered with Fringe North in funding Project Nishin's continued service of Indigenous and other criminalized artists in a healthy, holistic and unapologetically decolonial process. Offerings from Project Nishin Niizh (Nishin 2) are available below.

THE PROJECT NISHIN NIIZH (2) TEAM

Nokomis
Martina
Osawamick

Nokomis Martina Osawamick

Elder
Anishinaabemowin
Translator

Nokomis Martina Osawamick an Anishinaabe kwe, Ojibwe/Odawa from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory is known as Oginii Kwe (Rose Woman) and is of the amik/beaver Clan, makwa/bear as her helper and is second level of the Midewiwin lodge. She is a proud “Nokomis” of twelve grandchildren and a great grandmother to two. One of Martina’s priorities has always been her passion for preserving, maintaining and revitalizing the Anishinaabemowin language. She is Nokomis at Cambrian College and Laurentian University in Sudbury, working part time.

Nishin Creators

Zachariah Highgate

Nishin Creator

Born and raised in Toronto, Ontario, Zachariah Highgate (he/him) has spent the last ten years honing his skills as a rapper, singer, songwriter, and performer. As an Afro-Indigenous and Goan artist with a unique sound and style, Zachariah has faced difficulties merging into the music industry. His music speaks on his difficulties traversing interpersonal relationships and finding personal happiness. Zachariah continues to release music that not only speaks to his struggles, but sheds light on his hopes for the future. In addition to being a recording artist, he is also a University of Toronto: St. George campus graduate, a webseries producer, and an aspiring model. Zachariah is currently in the studio working on new music, including his debut EP dropping in 2022.

Sandra McFarling

Nishin Creator

Sandra McFarling is an Ojibwe Kwe Story Keeper, Mother, Auntie and proud Grandmother of 6. She is of the Crane Clan with roots from the Batchewana First Nation. She is very passionate about keeping alive the stories and traditions passed down from her Grandmother, Father and Aunties, for her grandchildren and future generations. The arrival of the pandemic has increased her awareness of food sovereignty and food insecurity and has prompted her to do more harvesting from the land. Using knowledge passed on from elders, she now grows her own tobacco and sage for ceremonial uses and vegetables for preserving. She also harvests the seeds from her crops for future use and for sharing with others.

Lois Apaquash

Nishin Creator

Lois Apaquash is an Anishnaabe-Kwe grandmother/Nokamis. Her People are from Batchewana First Nation, and her Clan is Ajiijaak/Crane. She is a story keeper who transitioned upon retiring from clinical social work in an urban Native community health care setting, to acting in theatre for the past seven years. The arts as a vehicle to express her culture is a tremendous blessing and compliments teaching and sharing stories. Lois has twenty-one Grandchildren who will bundle their family’s stories to share with their own children about the beauty of the Land and the abundance of life it offers.

Luca McCauley

Nishin Creator

Luca McCauley (he/him) is a classical singer and vocal performer. Born in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Luca is a recent Classical Vocal graduate from Interlochen Arts Academy and will be beginning his studies in Vocal Performance at the University of Toronto this fall. He has participated in music festivals, recitals, and choirs and appeared in various opera scenes and operettas. Selected credits include; Patience (Colonel Calverley), H.M.S. Pinafore (Captain Corcoran), Le Dernier Sorcier (Perlimpinpin), The Little Prince (The Little Prince).

Jordan Fiddler

Nishin Creator

Jordan Fiddler is a storyteller at heart, using their experiences to create what they believe in. They are also a drag queen and an actor with basic knowledge on Sewing, dance, wigs, and MC’ing.

Lisa Marie (LM)

Nishin Creator

Lisa Marie (LM) is a singer/songwriter and visual artist, who is a part of Atikameksheng Anishinawbek. LM does her best to live her life unapologetically. Daily affirmations like “You are amazing in your colossal presence” keep the shame at bay from the intergenerational effects of colonialism. She embraces her body, and creativity. She wants every Indigenous girl/woman/femme to know that they are significant and worthy of all the love in this world. Her music is influenced by prime country, MJB, 90’s grunge, Aaliyah, r&b, the blues, and herparents Jeff and Dolores Naponse. Nature and Anishnawbek teachings influence her artwork. LM is currently working on releasing her first album. She continues to write new music, capturing the life of an Anishinabe Kwe in the beginning of the 21st century.

Thomas-Dylan Cook

Logo Creator

Thomas-Dylan Cook is an actor and artist of Ojibway and Caucasian decent. He was born in Sault Ste. Marie Ontario, but also grew up on the Batchewana and Garden River First Nations. He has worked in various positions in film and television including scenic artist and production assistant.

He studied Fine Arts at Algoma University in Sault Ste. Marie. Then Graphic Design at George Brown College in Toronto Ontario before leaving to pursue a career in Film and Television. Several roles followed in the following years, leading to his latest work as Slash in the hit Canadian television series Letterkenny.

Jocelyn Dotta

ASL Translator

Jocelyn Dotta (she/her) is new to the field of ASL-English interpretation. She recently graduated in June of 2020 as part of the first cohort of George Brown College’s new Bachelor of Interpretation (ASL-English). Though she may be a new interpreter she has had plenty of experience in theatre. Growing up in Sudbury, ON, Jocelyn was an active member of the theatre and film community. She has worked with many different theatre companies including Theatre Cambrian, Thorneloe University, The Sudbury Theatre Centre and was a founding member of Encore Theatre Company. She was excited for the opportunity to work with the team of Project Nishin and honoured to be a part of this important work.

Oshkabewisag

Adam Francis Proulx

Oshkabewis

Adam Francis Proulx (he/they) is a theatre artist originally from Northern Ontario and currently based in Tkaronto. He holds degrees in Theatre and Business from the University of Waterloo. His work on stage and screen spans writing, performing, directing, producing, and more. An accomplished puppeteer and builder, Adam’s award-winning solo show BAKER’S DOZEN: 12 Angry Puppets has toured North America and been filmed for TV by Bell Media. Adam can currently be seen on The Fabulous Show with Day & Fluffy on Family Jr.

Working on this project with these incredible, kind, and compassionate artists has been a gift.

AdamFrancisProulx.com | PuckingFuppets.com

Sarah Gartshore

Oshkabewis

Sarah Gartshore (she/her/wiin) is an Anishinaabe miiniwaa Zhaganash art creator who works in solidarity with voices from the margins as a StoryTeller and champion of radical self love. With ancestors from Crane Clan of Batchewana First Nation and Clan Gartshore of Scotland, Gartshore is at home in leadership and in deep love with collaboration. Gartshore’s work highlights this Debwewin; the experts on the needs of the houseless community, people in active addiction community, sex working community and other criminalized communities, are those with lived experience. Gartshore believes in the magic of safe circles as sacred spaces that welcome transformation and the honouring of our Stories. Gartshore is honoured to work with Adam Francis Proulx as oshkaabewisag for the Nishin Niizh artists.

The Projects

ZACHARIAH

The Harbourfront in Toronto, Ontario has always been a special place for me, so I wanted to create a video that highlighted why that was. I also wanted to delve into why, as an adult, I seek out places of isolation in order to feel safe or comfortable. “Gratefully Different” finds me reflecting on my childhood traumas and recognizing how they’ve made me into the person I am today. I was also able to look into the history behind the Harbourfront’s relationship with Indigenous peoples and how negatively it was impacted by colonization. As an Afro-Indigenous Torontonian, this learning experience helped me to understand myself as well as a part of Toronto that is very important to me. I was able to see something so familiar in a completely different light. I hope you enjoy the journey this project took me on.

Thank you to Sarah Gartshore, Adam Francis Proulx, Aria Evans, and everyone else involved in this project. I’m forever grateful for this opportunity and have learned so much throughout this process.

SANDRA & LOIS

First we thank Project Nishin for the honour of accommodating us so we could collaborate on this work.

Our video titled Miigwechiwendan/Be Grateful, is about the land, the water and how ShkagamikKwe (Mother Earth) provides for all of our needs. It is an expression of Zaagi’idiwin/love, language and song that honours our connection to Creator, our ancestors and the teachings they brought forward for seven generations that continue to bless the next seven generations.

LM

This was one of those days where I “did what I can”. I took a shower and made it to the couch.
I completely surrendered to the emotions that emerged while doing my best to heal from my
trauma. It’s so hard to do what I know I have to do to heal. I’m leaning on “time” to help me
though.

My grandmother is the image you see in the video. She lived with alcoholism and domestic
violence. The poem is something I believe she would say to comfort me from the spirit world. I
know she is at peace and in a better place.

I have my bad days and I have my good days. I do my best to focus on the good things in my life that bring me joy and happiness; like my family and friends; my music and creativity; my culture and community.

Miigwech for watching!

LUCA

I have always loved the concept of a music video, the way a musician can convey a story through a visual medium, adding another layer to the artistry and individuality of their music. This medium has become very common in popular music, but I have always wondered how it could be incorporated with classical music. So that is precisely what I centered this project around. For this music video, I chose a German art song for voice, viola, and piano by Johannes Brahms, entitled Gestillte Sehnsucht (Longing at Rest). What drew me to this piece was its nature-centered idea. Growing up in Sault Ste Marie, I have had the great privilege of being surrounded by the Great Lakes and a paradise of forests, mountains, and rivers. Even when I moved to Michigan to attend Interlochen Arts Academy, I was still surrounded by nature’s vast beauty. Being encompassed by nature has always grounded me and brought me a sense of peace. I wanted to invoke these same feelings in my audience by transporting them through this lovely piece of music and a visual journey through the beauty of nature.

Thank you to Adam Francis Proulx and Sarah Gartshore for inviting me to participate in this wonderful project. Thank you to my Interlochen friends and colleagues, Nadia Stern, Izzie Smith, and Ya-Ju Chuang, for helping to bring this vision to life.

Sarah & Adam
Ontario Culture Days Artist in Residence Video

A HUGE thank you to everyone who participated in Project Nishin Niizh (2) Miigwetch!

As part of our annual festivals we have proudly supported Project Nishin and Project Nishin Niizh. These projects, that have taken place in 2020 and 2022, serve to support Indigenous, and other criminalized artists, in a healthy, holistic and unapologetically decolonial process of art creation. We are grateful to Ontario Culture Days for partnering with us to provide funding for Project Nishin Niizh.

The logo for this project was created by Dylan Cook.

Project Nishin is about nurturing relationship and in that spirit Thomas-Dylan Cook, who created our inaugural Project Nishin logo and is a Project Nishin artist, was invited in to create our Nishin Niizh (Two) logo. The design he created speaks to knowledge transfer between generations and holding our people well, both tenets to Nishin Niizh. Most importantly, relationship was honoured in the process of his beautiful work. Gchi-miigwetch, Dylan.