Decolonizing the Narrative Conversation Series is an online conversation session that invites leading Indigenous Art creators to talk about their practices and processes, facilitated by Janine Windolph, Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre. The Conversation Series engages an Indigenous lens in the various arts forms of Literary Arts, Film and Media Arts, Digital Media, Visual Arts, and Performing Arts including Theatre, Dance, and Music with Opera, Singer/Songwriter, and Classical Music. Explore and deepen your understanding of how Indigenous artists are using their arts discipline as a tool to decolonize artistic process and creation.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, this event on May 17/18 has been cancelled.
Cowboy Smithx
Cowboy Smithx will present the "Avatriix (ah-vay-tree) Methodology," a philosophical approach to all things composition and creativity. "Avatriix," an original coined word loosely meaning "harmony across multiple dimensions," was inspired and informed by the natural world, a land-based practice deeply informed by the symbiotic relationship Indigenous people have with their respective ancestral territories. The Avatriix Methodology can be applied to any artistic discipline including storytelling of all forms, dramaturgy, production design, character development, marketing, and early concept development.
Cowboy will also introduce the world to "Aeontagonism" an original philosophical practice in career-long multidisciplinary universe building that challenges antiquated story-structures from the "old world."
Sessions may share experiences and ask difficult questions.
These are by registration only and questions and answers will remain unrecorded.
With support from:
Meet Cowboy Smithx
Cowboy Smithx is 1⁄4 of a complex anomaly, existing in the human dimension as a (The Philosopher) civilian curator, writer and community organizer. The remaining 3⁄4’s includes Iikaakskitowa (The Artist), Iinaana (The Witch), and Persey Klaw (The Soothsayer). Cowboy is currently developing several narrative and documentary feature film projects. Cowboy is an advocate for capacity building in the arts and utilization of Blockchain technology.
Meet Janine Windolph
Janine Windolph (Atikamekw/Woodland Cree) is the Director of Indigenous Arts at Banff Centre Arts and Creativity. Windolph is known as an Interdisciplinary artist: filmmaker educator, curator, and storyteller. She has a Master of Fine Arts Interdisciplinary in Indigenous Fine Arts and Media Production.
Filmography includes Stories Are In Our Bones (Director/Writer) Lifegivers: Honoring Our Elders and Children (Director/Writer), The Land of Rock and Gold (Director/Writer/Producer), Ayapiyâhk ôma niyanân “Only us, we are here at home” (Production Mentor/Narrator), From Up North (Producer), The Beacon Project: Stories of Qu’Appelle Valley (Production Support/Storyteller /Producer), and RIIS from Amnesia: Recovering the Lost Legacies (Co-Director and Co-Producer).