Join us for an evening of conversation, creativity, and community with artists from the Eagle Spirits of the Great Waters exhibition. Come support local Indigenous voices, engage with stories behind their art and be inspired by the voices shaping our Indigenous arts community.

Kicking off the evening we’ll have a panel discussion, led by artists and community members, exploring the ideas and processes behind the artworks in the Eagle Spirits Art Exhibition. Our panelists include: Barry Gilbert, Lynn Taylor, Philip Cote, Miguel Turato, and Sidney Gendro. After the panel we will host a screening of the documentary Kanakiyost: Art, Identity and Belonging by filmmaker Cathleen MacDonald.

About the Film: Kanakiyost: Art, Identity and Belonging tells the personal story of Oneida artist Lynn Taylor (whose Oneida name is Kanakiyost) who has spent her life navigating the complexities of being an urban Indigenous person and the child of a residential school survivor. When her mother passes away, Lynn loses her strongest connection to her heritage. Seeking healing and purpose, Lynn must confront her anxieties. As she struggles to reclaim her Indigenous roots, she changes her life and transforms her community.

This film offers a contemporary perspective on urban Indigenous life, and how community and creativity can strengthen connections, foster understanding, and inspire positive change. It also features artwork by Lynn Taylor, Tawny Mestecanean, Skinny Davis, and Norval Morrisseau, with music by Dwayne LaForme’s Boogie Blues and eaoh Argos, and an original score by singer-songwriter Arlene Paculan.

Trigger warnings: This film explores personal stories of grief, family loss, and the intergenerational impacts of residential schools.

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About the Filmmaker: Cathleen MacDonald is an award-winning filmmaker and photographer, born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and now living in Mississauga, Ontario. She is known for the 26-part series “Working Animals” (Discovery Channel) and as the digital producer for “The Divided Brain” (Documentary Channel). Her work includes documentaries and narrative films. Her films have broadcast on CBC, Discovery Channel, Animal Planet, Superchannel, TVO, PBS, have sold to television in over 30 countries, and are distributed in Canada and the U.S. for education. Cathleen studied photography, animation, and graphic design at the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and has an Honours BFA, Film Production from York University, Toronto.-
This programing is supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation