The Rice Theatre Lobby at the Citadel Theatre (9828 101A Ave, Edmonton)

A series of ancillary events and art installations, running concurrently with our company’s theatre production of First Métis Man of Odesa at the Citadel theatre. 

Keep scrolling for a detailed look at each Artist.

Full Calendar of Events

Dawn Marie Marchand is a member of Cold Lake First Nation in Treaty Six territory. cîpêhcakwawêw-iskwêw (Blue Horse Spirit Woman) is a Cree and Metis artist, educator, advocate, author, writer, speaker, and mother. She received an Aboriginal Role Model Award for Art in 2017, during her term as the Inaugural Indigenous Artist In Residence for the City of Edmonton.  Facilitation of the Indigenous Artist Market Collective engagement and launch in 2018. An installation called “The Longest Journey” as part of the Nuit Blanche Festival in 2018. Since then she has created public art in the Stanley Milner Public Library and had artwork projected in Expo Dubai in 2020. Her Treaty 6 oral history recognition artwork, 10 Sticks was projected with the Juno 2023 Land Acknowledgement in Edmonton.

Krista Leddy is a proud Métis woman whose family comes from the historical Métis communities of St. Albert and Lac St. Anne. She currently calls amiskwaciywâskahikan (Edmonton) home. Her beadwork is influenced by the beautiful teachings, stories, and patterns of her Métis ancestors and brings the spirit of her grandmothers into all of her pieces, whether they are traditional or contemporary in nature. @beadedchickadee

Artist Biography

Ivanna Dyedkova was born on July 7, 1969 in Chervonograd, Lviv region, Ukraine. She lived in Lviv most of her life before immigrating to Canada in 2002 with her loving husband and two daughters. Ivanna attained her master’s degree for Technical Systems Engineer at Lviv Polytechnic National University and began her financial accounting career in Canada. 

Art has been a passion of hers for as long as she could remember. Her interest began at the Children's Fine Art School in her home town where she attended drawing and oil painting classes. Ivanna created interesting and original pieces of jewelry, made clothes for herself and her family, decorated traditional Ukrainian pysanky, embroidered, crocheted, knitted, and sewed. 

Ivanna felt inspired to be creative when she learned about jewelry made using seed beads. She was always looking for something new, which triggered her desire to learn, improve, and create her own unique technique and style of art. Over the past year, Ivanna has been brave enough to show her passion to friends and members of the Ukrainian community in Edmonton while maintaining to create more and more different pieces. Each piece of jewelry reflects her imagination, adoration, and respect for this art form. 

Artist Statement

With an interest in fashion, an eye for detail, and a love of creating things by hand, I started making my own jewelry. I focus on creating special event and every day jewelry. Every piece is a handmade work of art designed and constructed with exceptional care and quality. 

A love of nature inspires me to use of color and natural stones in my jewelry. The use of precious and semiprecious stones, Swarovski crystals and Japanese or Czech seed beads, amethyst, pearls, corals help to create unique pieces perfect for the everyday adventurer.

Seed bead jewelry has caught the attention of friends and buyers alike. My jewelry can now be found in Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts (ACUA) boutique (9534 - 87 Street), Alberta Branded (9820 - 107 Street) and on Facebook.

Tashina Makokis is a nehiyaw two-spirit artist from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation. Trained in the fine arts at the University of Alberta and taught beading and sewing from her aunties, their work is an eclectic mix of original paintings, illustrations, multimedia art, prints, zines, postcards, and wearable art such as bead work, hand-painted jewelry and pouches, upcycled clothing, and hand-painted denim jackets. A lot of her own personal research and work has centered on female Indigenous sexuality and the reclamation of their bodies and lives. All work is designed and made by the artist while they recover from a severe traumatic brain injury.

From an early age, Monique was immersed in the creativity and imagination of the women in her family who for generations have created pieces of art to share with loved ones.  Over the years, she has explored a variety of crafts and loves finding new outlets for her creativity.  Her work is whimsical, often practical, but each piece is hand crafted with love.

Instagram: @YEGiglet

My full name is Anastasia Naylor, and I am a citizen of the Métis Nation of Alberta. My first beading experience was in a moccasin making class with Elder Myrna Yellowbird during my undergrad at Augustana. Later I went on to grad school and became a Speech-Language Pathologist. I picked beading up again in 2020 from a Métis Nation of Alberta beading kit with instructions by Krista Leddy. I began making my own earrings and after a while I made too much to keep for myself. I started selling on social media and eventually at markets. I make earrings, keychains, and pins but hope to learn more. Beading makes me feel calm and connected to my culture. I am proud of my beadwork and grateful for the opportunity to share it.

Featuring Alex Kusturok on April 27 and April 29 www.alexkusturok.com

Growing up, Alex followed his mother Patti to Old time dances around Manitoba where he was enriched with the Métis fiddle from a very young age. By age 7, the passion for music became apparent and today Alex makes his living as a performer and educator.  

Alex continues to be high in demand as a performer, and educator across Canada. Alex has a blend of styles in his music. He is greatly influenced by the Quebecois and Cape Breton fiddle styles, however, the Métis style remains at the forefront of his playing.

Alex has released four Independent Albums, "Groove" (2009) , “For Old Times Sake" (2014) “Almost live” (2017) and “Phoenix” (2020) . In Alex's show you can count on a display of culture through music and dance, stories of his upbringing, and an energy that he hopes will touch your heart and move you. 

Featuring Calvin Vollrath on April 29 www.calvinvollrath.com

Calvin is a world-class fiddler and represents Alberta and Canada internationally. Since his participation at the 2000 World Music Expo (WOMEX) in Berlin Germany, Calvin has toured several European countries. He also served as musical director for Hank Smith’s band on his European tour from 1994-1996. In July 2006, Calvin was selected as one of 10 performers to represent Alberta at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington DC.

Calvin has recorded with the likes of Ian Tyson, Colleen Peterson & Laura Vinson to name a few and is still in demand as a studio musician for various Canadian artists and film and television productions. Calvin has appeared on many television shows including CTV’s "Sun Country", CTV's "Number I West" and was musical director for CBC's "Native Nashville North". CBC’s "Adrienne Clarkson Presents" aired a documentary on Métis fiddle music featuring Calvin Vollrath and John Arcand.

Featuring George Paleniuk on April 27, 29, May 5 and 6

George Paleniuk is an entertainer/musician/vocalist residing in Edmonton. An immigrant of Ukrainian descent, George began performing at the age of eleven.George has a repertoire of approximately 100 Ukrainian songs along with a playlist of 60 English selections. Musically-George plays accordion and keyboards.

Over the years George has performed with many musicians in a variety of venues in North America. In the last twelve months, his performances include as follows:

- Edmonton u-fest

-Vatra golf tournament

-Vinnia Ukrainian tv channel

-Bogani cafe

-Capilano Fargos

-High note bar and grill

-Alberta Council for the Ukrainian Arts

-Carrot Cafe

-Babas and Borscht festival

-Edmonton Ukrainian bilingual school functions

-numerous private events and home concerts

George’s album “Love It, or Lviv It!” is on Youtube here: https://youtube.com/playlist...

Featuring Jay Kuchinsky on May 5, 6 and 12

Jay is a life long Edmontonian and life long musician and multi-instrumentalist. Jay was a student at Grant MacEwan jazz college in the late '70's. His travels and interest in ethnic music have taken him to many world destinations, fiddle always in hand. His Ukrainian heritage and playing in Ukrainian orchestras in his youth have given him an inside perspective on this beautiful age-old music. And though Jay has no Indigenous or Métis blood he has always had a relationship with the community. As early as 1978 Jay fiddled for Métis dancers. Along the way he has performed with Lyle Donald and the Edmonton Métis Dancers. Jay taught the Métis Fiddle class at Ben Calf Robe School from 2007 to 2020. As well Jay has written a Tune Book “100 Ukrainian Dance Tunes from East Central Alberta”.

www.jaythefiddler.com

Featuring Dwayne Kushniruk on May 12 and 13

Dwayne grew up in the Hairy Hill area and started playing in his family’s band when he was 7 years old. He has played for weddings, dances, anniversaries and other social events over the past 65 years, many of which were for Ukrainian and Romanian audiences in East Central Alberta and also in Edmonton and Winnipeg. 

He was one of the original members of the Shumka Dancers orchestra that formed in 1967 and toured with Shumka and the Alberta Folk Arts Council in Canada, the USA, Northern Africa, Rome, Paris and London.

Dwayne today plays a MIDI electronic accordion, which is essentially a sophisticated music computer connected to the left- and right-hand accordion keyboards, which provides a full multi-instrument band sound.

In addition to his love for Ukrainian music, most of which he learned from his father and grandfather, he enjoys playing various European and other music genres, including traditional big band, country, Latin, Classical, and 50’s and 60’s classic favorites.

Dwayne lives in Edmonton and often fills in with stage bands for various open-mic events and other music and dance venues.

Featuring Brianna Lizotte on May 13

Brianna Lizotte is a fiddle player from Sylvan Lake Alberta. She grew up in a household where music was played, whether it was from home videos or kitchen parties. At the age of 10, most of the musicians in her family passed away, so she took it upon herself to keep the music alive. This has led her to many amazing opportunities like playing on TSN for the Canada Winter Games grand opening in 2019 and traveling to Rome to support the Metis delegates during their meetings with the Pope. She recently graduated from MacEwan University’s Bachelor of Music program and is looking forward to developing her voice within the Canadian music scene. 

www.briannalizotte.ca

Jess Sanderson-Barry of JShine Designs is a nêhiyaw-iskwêw, mother, full-time Cree Artist, Designer and Hide Tanner from Chakastaypasin Band, Treaty 6 Territory.  Jessica has created her wearable art under the name JShine Designs and is currently working out of Edmonton, Alberta.  Her art practice is influenced by her Cree roots, her lived experience and the land surrounding her. 

Jessica combines both traditional and contemporary beading styles into her art. Throughout her practice she utilizes elements from the land such as traditionally tanned hides, which she is reclaiming the practice and art of hide tanning.  Beading and working on hides has reawakened her spirit and she finds beading as a way to express herself by creating beautiful adornments for everyday wear. www.jshinedesigns.ca

Instagram/FB/TicTok : @JShineDesigns

My name is Olha Frolova. I’m an artist from Kyiv, Ukraine.
Now I live and create my art in Edmonton city in Alberta, Canada.
Drawing was always my hobby but for the last 7 years it had also been my job. In my art I show everything I love, worry about and all my thoughts.

In Ukraine I have my own brand of souvenir products with my original drawings designs. My creative brand has a branch in Canada now as I live here.

Since the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion on the territory of independent Ukraine, my Motherland, I talk more about my beautiful country in my drawings.
Ukraine is free, strong, and Ukrainians are brave people. I put all my soul in my drawings and I honor my country. And I know soon I will share a story of great victory in my art.

 My website https://www.artspacesol.ca/
 My instagram @artspacesol_canada
 My FB https://www.facebook.com/ArtspacesolCanada

Pei Pei Chei Ow (pronounced “pe-pe-s-chew”) is a food and education company based in Amiskwacîwâskahikan Treaty 6, founded by Scott Jonathan Iserhoff. The name means “Robin” in Omushkegowin (Swampy Cree) language and was given to Scott by his Moshom Louis Shisheesh in his childhood.

Inspired by the land, life, and seasons that surround us, Indigenous ways of cooking outdoors, and by the Indigenous way of Mino-Pimatisiwin, Pei Pei Chei Ow explores and highlights Indigenous food in today’s society, aiming to evoke memories and comfort.

www.peipeicheiow.com

Hi, I'm Anna.  I have been living in Edmonton for 8 months.  I have been doing handmade since childhood.  I have been embroidering brooches and jewelry for women for 4 years.  I really love what I do.  I know many different hand-made techniques, I recently learned candle making. 

Instagram: @so_pretty_canada

Wildrose Beadwork is authentic expression of traditional Indigenous Beadwork with contemporary design. All beadwork is handmade by Jacqueline Gibbon, from beaded earrings, beaded hats, graduation caps moccasins, mukluks, to modern original design including beaded belly button rings, mink and rabbit fur hoop earrings, and deadly-auntie-sized hair tie earrings! Jacqueline is a Métis otipemisiwak, nehiyaw, and white settler iskwew born and raised in Edmonton, Treaty 6.  Her work has been sold and bought across turtle island, and even as far as Amsterdam. Wildrose Beadwork blends traditional materials such as furs, rawhide, dentalium, and teeth to express through wearable art what is means to be a modern Indigenous person.

Janice is a 2nd Generation Ukrainian on her Mothers side, her Great-grandparents immigrated to western Alberta in 1919 & 1930. 

Janice’s 1st Generation Grandparents farmed in Lisburn, Alberta raising 8 children.

Janice was born and raised in Sangudo, AB by her Water Well Driller father and Mother along with her 3 younger sisters.

Sangudo where her and her husband of 30yrs stayed raised their 3 children on a cattle farm. 

 Janice’s Ukrainian heritage weaves into all areas of her life when she cooks, bakes, sews and of course when she writes pysanky. She loves to share the traditions with her family and especially her 7 grandchildren. Janice learnt to write pysanky from her Baba's, her mother, her Ukrainian community and now she teaches and sells her pysanky and pysanka jewelry at local markets, fairs and Ukrainian museums.

The Indigenous Artist Market Collective will be bringing in various artists to showcase their work at the Amiskwaciwâskahikan Indigenous and Ukrainian Community Arts Hub!

Unique Handcrafted Items from a Growing Collective of Local Indigenous Artists.

I.A.M is an Indigenous arts collective of more than seventy First Nations, Metis and Inuit artists who promote authenticity over appropriation by providing a place for market goers to purchase authentic, local Indigenous art.

Check out the I.A.M website here: www.iamcollective.ca

APRIL 30

Cory Nielsen of Summer Winds Creations

Monica Rain of the Little Tipi Family

3rd artist TBD

MAY 6

Donna Robillard of Kookum Donna's Creations

Paula Johnson of A Cree Woman Design 

3rd artist TBD

May 16

Denisse Jassey of Mexica Medicine Shop

Shannon Tokio-Carr - Stained Glass Artist

Eliška Podsedníková (Ellie) of Mahkesîs Creations

Jocelyn Lamothe is a citizen of Métis Nation of Alberta. Born and raised in the Edmonton area, her Métis ancestry is traced back through the Peace River area, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. She has been beading for the past several years, gratefully acknowledging family members, Elders and mentors, along with blood memory for her artwork. Each piece includes a gold bead from her father’s beading kit, representing gratitude and love for him and all ancestors.

Her Cree-Metis heritage comes from her father's family. Her grandmother, born at Big Prairie, Alberta attended St. Bernard's Residential School in Grouard. Métis scrip has been traced to both her great-grandfather, who fought in the Battle of Batoche alongside his brothers, as well as her great-great grandmother, who was both on the Great Plains. The scrip includes the location St Charles parish, Manitoba, and dated August 18, 1875.

Her family names include Jobin, Caron, Dumas, Mandeville, with ancestry traced back to the early 1800s.

Through her mother’s family, Jocelyn has European and Settler heritage with ties to Iowa, Scotland, and Sweden. Common threads amongst her parents included love for family, music, creating, and living with the land.

Jocelyn began Willow Rose Beads in 2020, which was awarded the first Amy Willier Memorial Award for Indigenous Artists, presented by Avenue Magazine’s Made in Alberta Awards. Her work can be found on her Instagram account and website.

Sky Hoffos Black Wolf Wisdom Keeper, AKA “The Ukrainian Viking” is a multidisciplinary artist from east central Alberta. His works range from leatherwork, blacksmithing and woodworking, to painting, printmaking and sculpting. He has been part of the Ukrainian art scene since 2009, and is also a fiddle player for the Ukrainian folk band “Kobzari”. Sky finds much of his inspiration from growing up on the farm, spending his free time out in the bush hunting and camping, making Ukrainian crafts, and from his background in Ukrainian dance.

Sky is also a practitioner of natural plant medicine and holistic energy healing.

Tân’si nitôtem’tik. Lisa nit’sihkâson, amiskwahci’waskihkan ekwa Lac La Biche ohci niya.

Hello, my friends. My name is Lisa, I am from Edmonton and Lac La Biche. It is important to me that I start learning, and start to feel comfortable introducing myself in nêhiyawêwin (cree), nicâpân & kôhkom first language.

Lisa Ladouceur is a Métis Artisan, whose family ties are deeply rooted in the Lac La Biche Area of AB. Lisa is a self-taught beader and has been on this journey for the last 13 years.

To me, beads are a self-expression of my heritage and culture, which I never want to be lost again in my family. Beading is a beautiful ceremony and one I intend to honour. This is my journey and I am glad you have come along this journey with me.

Kinanâskomitin - Thank you

Ann Bourque-Hardy is a proud Métis matriarch, artisan, and educator, with ancestral ties to the Bourque and Mercredi families in Treaty 8 territory. Ann draws on teachings from family and community, by sewing Métis-style clothing and quilts, with a specialty in mittens made with natural materials. In her time as an Educational Assistant and Family Liaison for Edmonton Public Schools, Ann has taught traditional games and crafts to youth across amiskwacîy. She has also spoken publicly about her family's experiences living in the north, and surviving the Indian Residential School and Federal Indian Hospital systems. Ann lives and works with her husband and two dogs in amiskwacîy, Treaty 6 territory.

I am an architect and sculptor from Kyiv, Ukraine. The material of my sculptures is metal wire, which is usually used to tie rebar on construction sites. It is a strong and malleable material, it perfectly holds its shape and is combined with the organicity of lines inherent in nature. My inspiration comes from nature and almost all my sculptures depict flora and fauna. 

Before finding a wire sculpture for myself, I experimented a lot with different techniques and materials and their combinations. I used origami and papier-mâché techniques, materials like paper, clay, plastic, thread and fabrics. All my experiments were accompanied by black ballpoint pen sketches, my favorite drawing tool. When I use a pen to draw I'm reflecting my mood in a line style that also perfectly conveys the atmosphere of the object. That is why when I’m making sculptures I’m creating a harmony of lines that form into recognisable things.

“I am a newcomer from the picturesque Cherkasy region. I came to Edmonton last September with 4 children, a husband, and a mother. I am a financier by education, but an artist by heart!

I like to create various interior decor and women’s handbags in the macrame technique, hanging chairs and swings. I am happy to teach this art to anyone who wants it. In the summer of last year, I had an interesting experience of holding such a master class in Poland and realized that art is truly an international language of communication. I also have four years of experience in drawing master classes on various charity projects for children, women, and families. It always inspires me to see how the mood of master class participants changes from insecurity to delight in their work!”

I am from Kikino Métis Settlement and I love slinging mud. What started as a hobby about 6 years back has become a passion. It is my favorite thing.  Calms my mind and feeds my soul.

Instagram: #metismudslinger @potterynstuffby