Nexw7áy̓entsut: Adapting Practice to XR

This November 15th at 2:30pm PST the IM4 lab will be co-hosting the webinar, Nexw7áy̓entsut adapting practice to XR, at the Vancouver Biennale Expo. Join us for this online event by registering for free here: http://www.artproject.io/

The online webinar will be moderated by IM4 Matriarch Cease Wyss featuring guest speakers Casey Koyczan, LeeAnne Ireland, Rose Stiffarm, Raven Two Feathers, and Taylor McArthur. The discussion will be on how Indigenous artists, filmmakers and communities are adapting to XR.

Moderator:

Cease Wyss is Skwxwu7mesh/Sto:Lo/ Hawaiian/Swiss, Cease is an IM4 Matriarch, artist, and educator with over 25 years experience in the field. She has produced various formats of media art, as well as being a mentor in her field for close to 15 years.  Cease co-authored Journey to Kaho’olawe, covering more than two centuries of the Kanaka family’s migration to the Pacific Northwest coast, and was also a recipient of the City of Vancouver Mayor’s Arts Award for film and new media in 2010. She is also an ethno-botanist, traditionally trained in this field by Indigenous Elders. Her work involves site-specific and culturally focused teaching with storytelling as her means to sharing knowledge. 

Guest Speakers:

Raven Two Feathers is a Two Spirit, Emmy award winning filmmaker. Being intertribal only encourages their exploration of local indigenous roots, wherever they go. They recently graduated magna cum laude from Santa Fe University of Art & Design with a BFA in Film Production. They produce and direct film and other media projects, working with a naturally diverse cast and crew along the way. They create various forms of content, flowing between fiction and non-fiction, most recently through the lens of virtual reality. Currently, they are in development for a queer Indigenous documentary series.

LeeAnne Ireland is a mixed-race, Anishnaabee person from the Treaty 1 region. A graduate from Trent University with a degree in Indigenous Studies, LeeAnne has been the Executive Director at the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY) since 2008. LeeAnne primarily focuses on social justice issues facing Indigenous youth living in the Calgary area, and with their involvement, creates programs, tools, and supports that foster healing, well-being, and empowerment. LeeAnne’s goal is to shift the narrative of Indigenous people to showcase the strength, resiliency, and vibrancy that Indigenous possess throughout the world. 

Casey Koyczan is a Tlicho Dene interdisciplinary artist from Yellowknife, NT, that works with various mediums to communicate how culture and technology coincide together alongside the political, economic, and environmental challenges that we are presented with. A portion of his large scale installation work utilizes earth materials to evoke the idea of nature reclaiming architectural space; returning to its original place of being. Inspired by sci-fi and Indigenous Futurisms, Koyczan implements various techniques of interactivity, audio-video, and the engagement of the bodily senses to raise awareness about a variety of topics within his creations.

Rose Stiffarm is a Blackfoot woman from Siksika, Cowichan, Saanich, Aaniiih, and Nakoda Nations. Ms. Stiffarm was born and raised in Suquamish/Duwamish Territory, aka Seattle, WA. Rose is an alumnae of Indigenous Independent Digital Film Diploma, Cinematography for Film and Video Certificate, and Motion Picture Arts Bachelor Degree Programs. Ms. Stiffarm works as a Director of Photography/Cinematographer, in addition to Directing, and has recently become a member of the Director’s Guild of Canada. Some of her recent work includes attending IM4 workshops and the Open Immersion Lab through imagineNATIVE and in partnership with the National Film Board of Canada. Rose is currently working on her Masters of Film Studies at Concordia University in Tio:tiake aka Montreal, QC.

Taylor McArthur (Nakota of Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation, Saskatchewan) is a digital artist who works at the intersection of 3D animation, video game design and video. Her developing body of work is evocative of Indigenous Futurisms and seeks to situate her Indigenous culture within both the modern and a potential future vision.

We look forward to seeing you there!