Indigenous presenter program
The APA continues to work with Indigenous communities across the region in our efforts towards reconciliation. This year we invited a contingent of Indigenous presenters from across the region to attend Contact East to get to know each other, presenters from outside of their communities and to benefit from the networking, and professional development opportunities available at the conference.
In March APA offered a second installment of our Indigenous Presenter Gathering, which took place in St. John’s NL, and gave attendees the space and time to meet, feast, connect and share, as well as take in some amazing demonstrations from local artists, like throat singing and fancy shawl dancing. And May saw us partnering with Petapan: Indigenous Artist Symposium to bring a group of Indigenous presenters to Fredericton to take part in workshops, keynotes, and showcases.
We are honoured to be working with the First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity on this program and are excited to introduce Jessica Brown as our Indigenous Presenter Program Coordinator. Jessica has been an integral part of the development and execution of the program’s events this year. You will see Jessica around at Contact East, leading the Indigenous presenter program on the ground.
Like any mentorship or learning circumstance, this is a two-way opportunity where presenters can learn from each other the methods, approaches and experiences in presenting. We have a lot to learn from each other and are excited to welcome the participants in the Indigenous Presenter Program to Contact East 2022!
Jessica Brown
Indigenous Presenter Program Coordinator
Jessica Brown (she/her) is a professional arts worker and emerging Inuk filmmaker. Hailing from Nunatsiavut, she’s always felt a deep connection to the land and her culture. She currently lives in St. John’s with her children. Jessica is a part of a team at First Light that is creating an Artist Collective for Artists in Newfoundland and Labrador. In 2002, Jessica began working with the Atlantic Presenters Association; first as a Contact East Selection Committee member, and most recently as the Indigenous Presenter Program Coordinator. She sits on the Board of Directors for Riddle Fence: A Journal of Arts & Culture. Jessica has been exploring documentary filmmaking focused on stories that explore identity, language, belonging and roots. She has been selected for the Doc Atlantic Breakthrough Program, led by Lunenberg Doc Fest, to pitch a new documentary she’s writing and directing at the Montreal International Documentary Festival. Jessica is the Assistant Director of Framed Spirit Song, a short documentary premiering this year at the St. John’s International Women’s Film Festival.
Contact East mentorship program
At the artist selection meeting in 2021, selection committee members noted a particular applicant who not only showed great talent but also great commitment to their art, but who, unfortunately, was not ready to showcase or tour. At the time, one of the committee members noted they would love to provide a mentorship opportunity for this applicant. Discussion in the room took place, including one of the members offering to sponsor this type of mentorship. From that discussion and bright idea, the mentorship program was seeded.
This year the committee selected Dee Dee Austin for the mentorship program who is being mentored by Jenelle Duval. Thanks very much to Prismatic for sponsoring this amazing opportunity for Deedee and Jenelle to connect and learn.
Mentor
Jenelle Duval (she/her) is an L’nu woman, mother and aritst from Seal Rocks, NL who currently lives and is working in St. John’s as an Advisor in media and content growth. She has been creating artistic spaces and opportunities for community and arts professionals since beginning her career in community in 2012. She was the Artistic Director of Spirit Song Festival, an annual celebration of Indigenous Arts and Culture in St. John’s for nearly a decade. Jenelle is the recipient of YWCA’s Women of Distinction Award (2019) for her work in Arts and Heritage, a founding member of EMCA-winning group Eastern Owl, and a tireless advocate for the preservation and revitalization of cultural arts and music. In 2019 Jenelle was acknowledged with her nomination for Indigenous Song-Writer of the year through the Canadian Folk Music Awards and was awarded the annual Achievement Award from the Atlantic Presenters Association for her contribution to Inidgenous arts presentation in Newfoundland and Labrador in 2020. She is a gifted song-writer and is currently composing a series of works that embody a lands-based narrative through her interactions with territorial attachments and interpersonal relations. Jenelle is rooted in her home territory of Ktaqmkuk, where she shares her life with her amazing daughter Kassidy.
Mentee
DeeDee Austin is a teenage Indigenous singer/songwriter whose infectious energy and authentic songwriting is bringing her recognition across the Maritimes.
Nominated for Music Nova Scotia’s Indigenous Artist of the Year in 2021 for her debut EP release Stepping Stones – recorded and produced by award-winning producer Scott Ferguson and co-produced by Owen O’Sound Lee. All songs were written and arranged by DeeDee herself. She has followed up with the release of the sequel to her single Buried Truth – Buried Truth Part 2 and 3 and is currently working on new songs for a second EP to be released later this year.
DeeDee was inspired to pursue a music career by her church organist, the late Maxine Hibbits, and draws much inspiration from her deep pride in her Indigenous roots.
The busy young artist has recently performed at the Stan Rogers Fest; Halifax Jazz Fest; The Guild, Charlottetown; Halifax Buskerfest; NS Mi’kmaw Summer Games in Cape Breton; Lunenburg Folk Harbour Fest and has bookings well into 2023.
“My goal is to touch the hearts of all my listeners through my realistic lyrics. I pour my heart into everything that I sing and play!”