SKéN:NEN

Santee is the Artistic Director and visionary for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s triptych rematriation series: Re-Quickening, Blood Tides and SKéN:NEN. The triptych centres Konnonkwehon:we creators, their voice and bodies, also as a means to balance out patri-colonial/settler privilege and viewpoints in performance creation. The series is intergenerational, intercultural and international. Our performance is process.

“The concept skén:nen translates from Kanyenʼkéha to mean balance, peace and moving intently in a balanced/peaceful way. It’s easy to ponder and discuss but much harder to action and embody especially living in an unbalanced environment. Our performance SKéN:NEN deals with individual and a community’s attempt at rebuilding skén:nen and re-establishing Onkwehon:we’neha after cataclysmic events occur due to climate change, the apex of patri-colonial mind-set and extracting from earth.”

Monique (Guna and Rappahannock nations) Dramaturg/Actor/Playwright - is spun directly from the family-web of New York’s Spiderwoman Theater. Her theatrical practice mines stories embedded in the body in connection to land and place. Monique has taught Indigenous Theatre and land-based embodied creation in theory, process and practice throughout Canada, the US, Latin America and Europe. She is the Artistic Director of Chocolate Woman Collective, founded to create Chocolate Woman Dreams the Milky Way and to explore Indigenous dramaturgies.

Monique has collaborated with Santee Smith since 2014 as the dramaturg for Kaha:wi’s triptych and as a performer in Re-Quickening. She was most recently seen onstage in the role of Aunt Shadie in “The Unnatural and Accidental Women” at The National Arts Centre. Upcoming projects include serving as dramaturg for various Indigenous theatre artists and as a performer in “We the People Before” at the Kennedy Center.

Montana is from the Oneida First Nation of the Thames. Montana began training in the exploration of indigenous and contemporary dance when he was accepted into the Indigenous Dance Residency (2015) and Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Summer Intensive (2016). Montana had the chance to work with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s Artistic Director Santee Smith with other performances and projects including The Mush Hole (2016-20), The Honouring, Medicine Bear (2015-17), I Lost My Talk – National Arts Centre Orchestra (2016) and for the Grand Act of Theatre – Continuance: Yonkwa’nikonhrakontàhkwen – Our Consciousness Continues Unchanged (2020). Additionally, Montana previously acted for Backyard Theatre’s one-time new production, The Other Side Of The River (2019). Montana continues to work on his abilities in performing arts with other projects from Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, multiple collectives he is a part of, and his own creative projects.

Julianne is from the Kahnyen’kehàka Nation,Turtle Clan, Six Nations of the Grand River. Julianne has been dancing since age 3, in all genres including Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Hip hop, Jazz, Lyrical, and Tap. Julianne danced in The Gift, in Toronto, in 2014 for Mercedes Bernardez.

She danced with Santee Smith at the opening ceremonies of the North American Indigenous Games, World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education closing ceremonies (2017), Indspire Awards (2018) and is a core member of The Mush Hole. She has been a part of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s triptych series performing in Blood Tides and now SKeN:NEN; Grand Act of Theatre – Continuance: Yonkwa’nikonhrakontàhkwen – Our Consciousness Continues Unchanged (2020); and the upcoming Homelands. Julianne appeared as an extra in the documentary Desert Between Us & Them: Raiders, Traitors, and Refugees in the War of 1812 (2013).

Raised in Vancouver and based in Toronto, Raelyn is a woman of mixed race Plains Cree from Saskatchewan, settler. She is a graduate of The Conteur Dance Academy. In 2015 Raelyn had the pleasure of working with Conteur Dance Company, a preview development show under the direction of artistic director Eryn Waltman. Raelyn has also worked with Aria Evans who is artistic director of Political Movement. In 2017 Raelyn performed Aria’s work Voice Of A Nation, commissioned by the Toronto Concert Orchestra. Raelyn performed as a dancer at the 2018 Indspire Awards along with Santee Smith, the founding artistic director of Kaha:wi Dance Theatre. Raelyn has recently completed the 2019-20 tour of the production The Mush Hole with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and received a 2020 Dora Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble. Raelyn is a dedicated dance artist who wishes to continue her inspiration for others.

Jarrett Siddall is a Dora nominated artist who started his performance career in Edmonton, Alberta dancing for the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers and Citie Ballet. Jarrett attended The School of Toronto Dance Theatre in 2009, and was awarded the Hnatyshyn Foundation Developing Artist Grant in contemporary dance in his first year. Graduating in 2012, Siddall joined Toronto Dance Theatre for five seasons and now works with various independent choreographers and companies including Peggy Baker Dance Projects, Vazari Arts Company, and Frog In Hand. Jarrett also works as an actor in film and television, focusing primarily on using his experience with movement research and creation to develop as a creature performer and action actor. For more information about Jarrett and his upcoming projects you can visit his website at www.jarrettsiddall.com

Emma is an award-winning Creative Director and founding partner of AVA Animation & Visual Arts that specializes in Projection Design. She is a member of the First Cohort of the #FifthWave Initiative by the Canadian Film Centre for women led businesses, and has been creating graphics and animation for renowned animation and post-production studios in Canada and abroad for over a decade. AVA Animation and Visual Arts is a pioneer in the international field of Architectural Projection Mapping for live events. They create award winning works and installations showcased in Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, United States, U.A.E., Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, Chile, Russia and Canada.

Pedro Narváez Castellanos is the award-winning Technical Director and Partner behind AVA Animation & Visual Arts. His background is Information Design with a postgraduate certificate in Visual Effects at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology. Pedro has over 14 years of experience working in animation and post-production, collaborating studios in Canada and abroad. Together with his partner Emma Lopez Hechem started AVA Animation and Visual Arts in 2010, pioneering the field of Architectural Projection Mapping for live events. Ever since they have created award winning works and installations for Mexico, Japan, Switzerland, Spain, United States, U.A.E., Lebanon, Armenia, Romania, Chile, Russia and Canada.

Lindy (he/him) is descendant of Mookimaanish the war chief, grew up in Wiikwemkoong Unceded First Nation as part of the Pike clan, and is Odawa of the three fires confederacy. After moving to T'karonto for school and experience to bring back home, Lindy quickly found his love for the arts, problem solving skills, and always positive attitude would serve him well. One of those art forms include dancing the men’s prairie chicken style, from pow wows, to classrooms in the city, all the way to stages in Malaysia! Lindy strives to educate and bring down stereotypes of Indigenous peoples any chance he gets, currently doing this as the Community Engagement Facilitator in the education department at Young People's Theatre. Kinoshameg got his start working in Dance with Santee in 2012 as a summer student, and is both grateful and ecstatic for every chance he gets to work with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre.

Jesse is a multiple Juno Award winning musician and an in-demand record producer having produced Polaris Music Prize and Juno Award winning albums for Tanya Tagaq and others.

Zubot has recorded and performed with an extensive range of artists including Steve Reich, Dan Mangan, Fond of Tigers, Hawksley Workman, Gord Grdina, Mats Gustafsson, Marc Ribot, Destroyer, Louise Burns, Sandro Perri, Mother Mother, Stars, Jon Bryant and others.

In recent years, Zubot has delved heavily into the world of film scoring. His scoring credits include Monkey Beach (dir. Loretta Todd), Indian Horse (dir. Stephen Campanelli), Two Lovers and a Bear (dir. Kim Nguyen), Hector and the Search for Happiness (dir. Peter Chelsom) and Koneline:Our Land Beautiful (dir. Nettie Wild). Zubot has been nominated multiple times for his scoring work at both the Canadian Screen Awards and the Leo Awards. Jesse has been creating sound scores for Santee Smith’s dance productions for many years!

Adrian is a multi-award winning “Jack of All Trades” when it comes to performing arts. He started singing Powwow style at 7, Fancy Dancing at 10, and then began Hoop Dancing at 12 years of age. His performances have taken him around the world numerous times to share his culture with global audiences. Currently, Adrian now owns his own production company, OvenBakedBeatz LLC where he produces music for TV, radio and live theatre. Adrian stands evenly in both worlds of Traditional Culture and Modern Music with credits including a NAMMY (Native American Music Award), CANAB (Canadian Aboriginal Music Award), Grammy (2001) and RIAA GOLD Certification.

He has created compositions for Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s TransMigration, The Honouring and NeoIndigenA.

Andy is the co-founding Artistic Director of Indigenous Activism and Art practice ARTICLE 11 Cultural Industry with Tara Beagan. ARTICLE 11’s Deer Woman met critical acclaim at the Edinburgh and Sydney Festivals, Kia Mau Aotearoa, and Arts Centre Melbourne. The 2020 video interpretation has been screened repeatedly including an upcoming live event at Vancouver’s Chan Centre. Andy is proud to have collaborated with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre for many years. Other recents include Beagan’s Ministry of Grace for the Belfry, Ian Ross' The Third Colour for Prairie Theatre Exchange, Tomson Highway’s Post Mistress at RMTC, Dancers of Damelahamid’s Flicker, Minowin, and Raven Mother, Marie Clements’ Unnatural and Accidental Women at the NACIT. Upcoming is The War Being Waged by Darla Contois at PTE, Time Stands Still with MT7, SkyDancers for A’no:wara Dance Theatre, Ken William’s The Herd with Citadel, Tarragon and the NAC plus Tomson Highway’s Rez Sisters at RMTC.

Evan is a Health & Safety consultant specializing in the Entertainment Industry with his company Production Health & Safety. When not inspecting theatres and concert venues, he dabbles in production design. Select Credits: For Kaha:wi Dance Theatre: Tour Production Manager, The Mush Hole (2018-20); Production Manager, Blood Tides: World Premiere, (2018); Tour Manager, Re-Quickening, (2017); Lighting Designer, The Honouring, (2017). Elsewhere: Health & Safety Manager, WayHome/Boots & Hearts, Republic Live (2016-19); Head of Lighting/Technical Director, Mass Exodus 2016, Ryerson School of Fashion; Technical Director, Kudelka Meets Ryerson Dances (2015); Lighting Designer, Balm In Gilead, Ryerson Theatre School (2015); Audio Lead, Maple Leaf Gardens (Basketball), Toronto 2015 PanAm Games; Scenic Designer, Les Misérables, Hometown Acting Company (2013).

Adriana is a Slovakian born fashion and costume designer. In 1999 she moved to Toronto to pursue a career in fashion and costuming. In 2001, she started her own fashion label Plastik Wrap which led her into the costume design profession. In the last decade, Adriana has created costumes for many video and film productions, dancers, musicians, as well as independent theatres and artists. Her client list includes Space Channel, APTN, Kaha:wi Dance Theatre, Bralen Dance Theatre, Indspire Awards and many others. Adriana's main passion is creating. She embraces the challenge of designing any style required for the job at hand.

Semiah is a multidisciplinary artist from the Kahnyen’kehàka (Mohawk) Nation, Six Nations of the Grand River. She has been performing since the age of 7 in Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s production of A Story Before Time and later played the role of narrator “Kateri” on an international tour. Semiah’s performance credits include: Kaha:wi: The Cycle of Life (aired on APTN); Apikiwiyak (imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival) and The Mush Hole. She is a founding member of Hatiyo (traditional Onkwehon:we singers), she creates and performs as a singer/songwriter in contemporary Indigenous and alternative RnB styles. Her recent singing performances include: Luminato Festival; Paprika Festival; North American Indigenous Games; Indspire Awards; and Kaha:wi Dance Theatre’s production Blood, Water, Earth and SKeN:NEN

Jennifer is an internationally renowned vocalist from the Tuscarora Nation, North Carolina. A Genie award winning singer/composer/producer/teacher with 28 years of experience in musical performance, music producing, and soundtracks. She started off singing with the critically acclaimed trio Ulali for 27 years, and is now working on a solo album. Music for film credits include: Dawnland, Raven West’s Unnatural and Accidental, Miramax’s Smoke Signals, TBS’s Music for The Native Americans, The Business of Fancy Dancing, Anagram Films’ Elijah, Palm Pictures One Giant Leap. She has collaborated with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre on productions: The Honouring, Blood, Water, Earth and SKeN:NEN.