Latest news with #Kanien'kehá:ka
Hamilton Spectator
06-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
New admin at two Kahnawake schools
Kahnawake Survival School (KSS) will have a new leader next year, with Sha'teiohserí:io Patton set to become the school's new principal, while Melissa Lasante will serve as the new associate principal at Kateri School. 'We're just very proud of both Melissa and Sha'teiohserí:io,' said Kahnawake Education Center (KEC) director Falen Iakowennaiéwas Jacobs. 'They both have the leadership skills and the qualities that can really bring the roles they're taking on forward, and we're really excited to have them in the roles.' Patton was associate principal at KSS for most of the academic year that is now coming to a close, having started in that role in October at the impressive age of 25. Having learned from that experience, the Stanford University graduate is now ready for her next challenge. 'Honestly, the right word is gracious. I'm also very humbled by being selected. I'm really eager to be able to step into the new role and support the student body, the teachers, and the greater community of KSS. I'm very excited,' said Patton. That overarching view of the school's place in Kahnawake will be fundamental to her approach, she suggested. 'I think a successful student is as strong as the community surrounding them,' said Patton, who views collaboration as a critical component of local education. Getting to know KSS as a kind of family is one big observation from her tenure so far, she said, and one she will focus on preserving going forward. 'We have so much love for each other. That was my biggest takeaway. It is a community school. It's filled with so many passionate people and minds and feelings that really extend a lot farther than academics,' she said. She emphasized the importance of her own family's support, citing her loving parents, in helping her get to where she is today. Perhaps this is one reason she wants to give parents every opportunity to participate in school life. 'I think what I'd like parents to know is they have as much of a voice in school policy and culture as the students, as the teachers, as the staff. I would love to have greater parent collaboration in the coming years,' she said, adding that the outreach is likely to include updates to the school's communications strategies. From the beginning of her tenure at the school, Patton has also seen how important student wellness and safety are to academic success, so it will be a priority to ensure this is reflected in the school's policies and protocols. 'We're also looking at strengthening the identity of culture as well as tradition in the school, so getting more perspective from the student body about what that means, what Kanien'kehá:ka identity is all about, what are the school values,' said Patton. This approach is one reason Patton was selected for the role, according to Jacobs, as her outlook aligns with the KEC's emphasis on strengthening Kanien'kehá:ka culture, which will continue to be one of the core priorities in the years ahead. 'I've always been impressed with Sha'teiohserí:io's drive and her community vision, and that includes incorporating our ways and our culture, tsi niionkwarihò:ten, into everything that she does,' said Jacobs. A new associate principal at KSS will be needed, for which a callout will be coming soon. The school's current principal, Sarah Phillips, has decided to return to the classroom as a teacher for the time being, according to Jacobs. Lasante, meanwhile, will be moving from the position of resource teacher at Kateri School to become that facility's associate principal. 'We're really excited to welcome Melissa on board in her position,' said Jacobs, noting Lasante's extensive experience in education in Kahnawake, which goes back more than two decades, including at Step By Step Child and Family Center. 'She has a lot of the background and the leadership skills and qualities needed to fulfill the role of associate principal,' said Jacobs. One of her assets is the way she's proven adept at creating ties with community members, Jacobs said. 'That's what our whole system is based on is parental voice, parental guidance, parental connection, and it's so imperative to foster those bonds and establish good relationships with parents from the get-go, from when they enter into the KEC system, to know their perspective and their opinions are so valuable. They're their children's first teachers, so we can only work together to meet the needs of our students,' she said. marcus@ Marcus Bankuti, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Cision Canada
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Cision Canada
Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse Français
Presented in conjunction with the Gallery's new Nadia Myre solo exhibition OTTAWA, ON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - From May 30 to September 1, 2025, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) presents Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse, a solo exhibition that tells the story of Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist Skawennati's dynamic artistic trajectory over 25 years, as she envisions Indigenous people in the future through avatars, costumes, textiles, prints, sculpture, time-based productions as well as machinimas and machinimagraphs—films and still images made in virtual environments. "Skawennati fearlessly explores themes of Indigenous futurism. She has imagined avatars, dolls, goddesses, historical figures and everyday people who meaningfully and playfully intersect across time and space in a dreamhouse of her creation," said Jean-François Bélisle, Director and CEO, of the National Gallery of Canada. "We are proud to share her work with the public. The works in Skawennati's dreamhouse create a place where humanity can reach a world that has changed for the better, where the future becomes real and where dreams can be manifested in the here and now." "Skawennati unearths often repressed histories and melds them with speculative conceptions of the future by creating worlds of discovery and wonder. In these worlds, she explores notions of time, place, memory, dreams and aspirations, particularly from her perspective as a Kanien'kehá:ka artist, activist, mother and advocate for Indigenous-centred learning and being," wrote Steven Loft, Vice-President, and Michelle LaVallee, Director Indigenous Ways and Curatorial Initiatives, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization at the National Gallery of Canada, in their introduction to the exhibition catalogue. "For her, the digital media landscape becomes just that: a landscape replete with life and spirit, inclusive of beings, thought, prophecy and the underlying connectedness of all things." Organized by the National Gallery of Canada and curated by Wahsontiio Cross, Associate Curator, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization at the NGC, Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse brings together the Montreal-based artist's creative output through more than 100 works of art. As a lifelong science fiction and Star Trek fan, the artist noticed that there were very few Indigenous people in the stories about the future. She set out to change that through her work. Beginning with Imagining Indians in the 25th Century (2000), a groundbreaking web-based work, the survey exhibition continues through her exploration of technology until her most recent works, such as the three-channel music video and fashion collection They Sustain Us (2024). The majority of the art works on display in Welcome to the Dreamhouse are drawn from the artist's personal collection. Other works on view are from the National Gallery of Canada's collection (9), Canada Council for the Arts' Art Bank, Canada Council for the Arts and the Musée Pointe-à-Callière, cité d'archéologie et d'histoire de Montréal. Catalogue A richly illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse. Edited by Wahsontiio Cross, the 136-page softcover book comprises contributions by Mojeanne Sarah Behzadi, Richard William Hill and Cheryl Sim. Available at the Boutique and online. Public programs A shared space, Kahwá:tsire—the Gathering of all Embers, is connecting the exhibitions Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse and Nadia Myre: Waves of Want, both presented at the same time. This gathering space is for coming together, learning and reflecting on both exhibitions. In Kahwá:tsire, visitors are invited to leave their reflections on the exhibitions as part of the community fire and create their own wallpaper designs and paper dolls inspired by the works of Skawennati and Nadia Myre. Additional learning activities planned include beading workshops with Ojibwe artist Amanda Fox, miniature birch bark canoe workshop with Algonquin artisan Pinock Smith, special meet the artist tours, and ongoing tours with interpreters. Visit for more details. About the National Gallery of Canada Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is among the world's most respected art institutions. As a national museum, we exist to serve all Canadians, no matter where they live. We do this by sharing our collection, exhibitions and public programming widely. We create dynamic experiences that allow for new ways of seeing ourselves and each other through the visual arts, while centering Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Our mandate is to develop, preserve and present a collection for the learning and enjoyment of all—now and for generations to come. We are home to more than 90,000 works, including one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art, major works from the 14 th to the 21 st century and extensive library and archival holdings. SOURCE National Gallery of Canada
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Yahoo
Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse
Presented in conjunction with the Gallery's new Nadia Myre solo exhibition OTTAWA, ON, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - From May 30 to September 1, 2025, the National Gallery of Canada (NGC) presents Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse, a solo exhibition that tells the story of Kanien'kehá:ka (Mohawk) artist Skawennati's dynamic artistic trajectory over 25 years, as she envisions Indigenous people in the future through avatars, costumes, textiles, prints, sculpture, time-based productions as well as machinimas and machinimagraphs—films and still images made in virtual environments. "Skawennati fearlessly explores themes of Indigenous futurism. She has imagined avatars, dolls, goddesses, historical figures and everyday people who meaningfully and playfully intersect across time and space in a dreamhouse of her creation," said Jean-François Bélisle, Director and CEO, of the National Gallery of Canada. "We are proud to share her work with the public. The works in Skawennati's dreamhouse create a place where humanity can reach a world that has changed for the better, where the future becomes real and where dreams can be manifested in the here and now." "Skawennati unearths often repressed histories and melds them with speculative conceptions of the future by creating worlds of discovery and wonder. In these worlds, she explores notions of time, place, memory, dreams and aspirations, particularly from her perspective as a Kanien'kehá:ka artist, activist, mother and advocate for Indigenous-centred learning and being," wrote Steven Loft, Vice-President, and Michelle LaVallee, Director Indigenous Ways and Curatorial Initiatives, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization at the National Gallery of Canada, in their introduction to the exhibition catalogue. "For her, the digital media landscape becomes just that: a landscape replete with life and spirit, inclusive of beings, thought, prophecy and the underlying connectedness of all things." Organized by the National Gallery of Canada and curated by Wahsontiio Cross, Associate Curator, Indigenous Ways and Decolonization at the NGC, Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse brings together the Montreal-based artist's creative output through more than 100 works of art. As a lifelong science fiction and Star Trek fan, the artist noticed that there were very few Indigenous people in the stories about the future. She set out to change that through her work. Beginning with Imagining Indians in the 25th Century (2000), a groundbreaking web-based work, the survey exhibition continues through her exploration of technology until her most recent works, such as the three-channel music video and fashion collection They Sustain Us (2024). The majority of the art works on display in Welcome to the Dreamhouse are drawn from the artist's personal collection. Other works on view are from the National Gallery of Canada's collection (9), Canada Council for the Arts' Art Bank, Canada Council for the Arts and the Musée Pointe-à-Callière, cité d'archéologie et d'histoire de Montréal. Catalogue A richly illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse. Edited by Wahsontiio Cross, the 136-page softcover book comprises contributions by Mojeanne Sarah Behzadi, Richard William Hill and Cheryl Sim. Available at the Boutique and online. Public programs A shared space, Kahwá:tsire—the Gathering of all Embers, is connecting the exhibitions Skawennati: Welcome to the Dreamhouse and Nadia Myre: Waves of Want, both presented at the same time. This gathering space is for coming together, learning and reflecting on both exhibitions. In Kahwá:tsire, visitors are invited to leave their reflections on the exhibitions as part of the community fire and create their own wallpaper designs and paper dolls inspired by the works of Skawennati and Nadia Myre. Additional learning activities planned include beading workshops with Ojibwe artist Amanda Fox, miniature birch bark canoe workshop with Algonquin artisan Pinock Smith, special meet the artist tours, and ongoing tours with interpreters. Visit for more details. About the National Gallery of Canada Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada is among the world's most respected art institutions. As a national museum, we exist to serve all Canadians, no matter where they live. We do this by sharing our collection, exhibitions and public programming widely. We create dynamic experiences that allow for new ways of seeing ourselves and each other through the visual arts, while centering Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Our mandate is to develop, preserve and present a collection for the learning and enjoyment of all—now and for generations to come. We are home to more than 90,000 works, including one of the finest collections of Indigenous and Canadian art, major works from the 14th to the 21st century and extensive library and archival holdings. Ankosé – Everything is connected – Tout est relié SOURCE National Gallery of Canada View original content to download multimedia:
