Ontario Presents and its member presenting organizations recognize the importance of presenting Indigenous artists, stories and culture as part of their presenting practice.
In our continuing efforts to encourage the respectful presentation of Indigenous art, we began a Spotlight series in 2017 in which we feature an Indigenous artist each month in our e-newsletter and blog.
Our sincere thanks to Denise Bolduc for conceiving of and continuing to support this Spotlight Series. Spotlights are developed with the artist, and are intended simply to share the artist’s work and foster greater awareness and understanding of the strength and diversity of Indigenous art available in Ontario and beyond.
All of the interviews that have been published thus far can be found below. This list will be updated each month.
Elisapie
Musician
Featured April 2024
Shawnee Kish
Singer-Songwriter
Featured March 2024
Adrian Sutherland
Roots-Rock Musician
Featured February 2024
Cherish Violet Blood
Actor/Storyteller
Featured January 2024
Beverley McKiver
Pianist/Composor
Featured December 2023
Brock Stonefish
Blues musician
Featured September 2023
Sandra Lamouche
Hoop Dancer/Multidisciplinary Storyteller
Featured August 2023
Semiah
R&B Musician
Featured July 2023
Samantha Sutherland
Dance Artist
Featured June 2023
Kairyn Potts
Two-Spirit multidisciplinary artist
Featured March 2023
Caitlin Goulet
Singer/Songwriter/Producer/Musician
Featured January 2023
Christa Couture
Award-winning, multi-disciplinary artist
Featured April 2022
Cris Derksen
Cellist and Composer
Featured March 2022
Bryden Gwiss
Juno-nominated Pow-Wow singer/song-maker
Featured February 2022
Jace Martin
Mainstream recording artist & producer
Featured January 2022
Brenda MacIntyre, Medicine Song Women
JUNO award-winning artist and motivational speaker
Featured December 2021
Barbara Kaneratonni Diabo
Dance Artist/Choreographer/Artistic Director
Featured November 2021
Theresa Cutknife
Producer/Playwright
Featured October 2021
Aqua Nibii Waawaaskone
Singer/Songwriter/Musican
Featured September 2021
Jennifer Alicia
Spoken Word Artist
Featured August 2021
Starr Muranko
Dance Artist
Featured July 2021
Olivia C. Davies
Dance Artist
Featured June 2021
Margaret Grenier
Dance Artist
Featured May 2021
Tai Amy Grauman
Theatre Artist
Featured April 2021
Celeigh Cardinal
Singer-Songwriter
Featured March 2021
Barry Bilinsky
Theatre Artist
Featured February 2021
Akpik Theatre (Reneltta Arluk and Barry Bilinsky)
Theatre Company
Featured January 2021
Cheyenne Scott
Actor/Playwright/Creative Producer
Featured December 2020
Beny Esguerra
Musician/Educator/Community Worker
Featured November 2020
Elder Shirley Williams
Featured October 2020
John Aitken
Interdisciplinary artist
Featured September 2020
Stephanie Pangowish
Comedian
Featured August 2020
Todd Houseman
Actor
Featured July 2020
Jeff D’Hondt
Theatre
Featured June 2020
Vanguardia Dance Projects
Dance
Featured May 2020
D.B. Mcleod
Comedian
Featured April 2020
Yolanda Bonnell
Playwright, performer, poet
Featured March 2020
G.R. Gritt
Musician
Featured February 2020
Nick Sherman
Musician
Featured January 2020
Classic Roots
Musician
Featured December 2019
Amanda Rheaume
Musician
Featured November 2019
Silla and Rise
Musical Trio
Featured October 2019
Ansley Simpson
Musician
Featured September 2019
Midnight Shine
Band
Featured August 2019
Tanya Lukin Linklater
Dancer
Featured July 2019
Julian Taylor
Musician
Featured June 2019
The Ollivanders
Band
Featured May 2019
Twin Flames
Band
Featured April 2019
Clayton Windatt
Multi-Artist and Executive Director, Aboriginal Curatorial Collective
Featured March 2019
Cody Coyote
Hip Hop-Electronic Artist and Motivational Speaker
Featured February 2019
Lacey Hill
Singer/Songwriter and Inspirational Speaker
Featured January 2019
Montana Summers
Dancer
Featured December 2018
Bruce Naokwegijig
Actor, Director, and Artistic Director of Debajehmujig Theatre Group
Featured November 2018
Ange Loft
Multidisciplinary Artist, Associate Artistic Director, Jumblies Theatre, Vocalist, Yamantaka//Sonic Titan
Featured October 2018
Spy Dénommé-Welch
Writer and Composer
Featured September 2018
Cheri Maracle
Singer and Actor
Featured August 2018
Iskwé
Singer
Featured July 2018
Chad Anderson
Comedian
Featured June 2018
Aria Evans
Dancer
Featured May 2018
Michelle Olson
Dancer, Choreographer and Artistic Director of Raven Spirit Dance
Featured April 2018
Keith Barker
Theatre Artist and Artistic Director of Native Earth Performing Arts
Featured March 2018
Jani Lauzon
Multidisciplinary Artist
Featured February 2018
Jeremy Dutcher
Musician
Featured January 2018
Falen Johnson
Playwright
Featured December 2017
Christine Friday
Dancer and Choreographer
Featured November 2017