Indigenous Rising, photographed by Nadya Kwandibens (Red Works) in partnership with Photographers Without Borders (PWB), is a portrait series featuring Indigenous artists, scholars, media-makers, activists, and survivors. The work focuses on stories of Indigenous resistance, reclamation, resurgence, decolonization, and intelligence. Portraits are accompanied by a message from each participant and are on display throughout Kensington Market in Toronto for the month of May during the CONTACT Photography Festival.
The Opening Prayer and Smudge was led by Knowledge Keeper Laureen Bluewater followed by the Welcome and Land Acknowledgement by Chief Stacey Laforme, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. The exhibit launch included drumming and remarks by OPSEU members Crystal Sinclair, Darlene Kaboni and Cristine Rego, all prominently featured in the exhibit. Partners in the OPSEU Sixties Scoop campaign Danielle Da Silva, Photographers Without Borders CEO, Nadya Kwandibens, Red Works, and Wayne Mousseau-Pheasant, Sixties Scoop Survivor also spoke at the event. Nadya Kwandibens, producer of the exhibit, is Anishinaabe (Ojibwe) from the Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation in northwestern Ontario. A traditional feast was provided by Pow Wow Cafe.
This exhibit came about as a collaboration between the OPSEU Indigenous Mobilization Team (IMT) Sixties Scoop Campaign and Photographers Without Borders. This collaboration will also include a documentary on the IMT Sixties Scoop Campaign and the joint OPSEU-Food Share Toronto Northern Food Markets initiative establishing food markets in Northern Indigenous communities. Sixties Scoop Campaign lead Darlene Kaboni is pleased that “this collaboration between the IMT and Photographers Without Borders continues to amplify the voices of Indigenous communities as they resist colonialism and revitalize their cultures, languages and traditions.”
For more information visit photographerswithoutborders.org.