Humor in Indigenous Cultures

... an entertaining evening of thoughtfulness

Gallery 1C03 in co-operation with The University of Winnipeg’s Aboriginal Governance Program and Urban Shaman Gallery are thrilled to present what promises to be a fantastic evening of stand up, story telling, critical thinking, and laughter inspired by the life and work of Kainai First Nations journalist, cartoonist, and activist, Everett Soop (1943 - 2001).

Our featured guests include:

• University of Winnipeg Carol Shields Writer in Residence Maria Campbell
• Comedian Ryan McMahon (aka Clarence Two Toes)
• Indigenous Literatures scholar Niigonwedom J. Sinclair

Our MC for the evening will be:

• Local Renaissance man about town Wab Kinew

Thursday, March 19, 2009
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Convocation Hall, University of Winnipeg, 515 Portage Ave

Admission is free and all are welcome, so come on down and be sure come early to snag a good seat!


Bios:

MARIA CAMPBELL is an accomplished artist and cultural leader. She is a novelist, playwright, film producer and director. She has been awarded four honorary doctorates, the Distinguished Canadian Award, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit, the Molson Award from the Canada Council for the Arts, a Chalmers Award for Best New Play and a Dora Mavor Moore Award. She is currently the University of Winnipeg's Carol Shields Writer in Residence.

Based in Winnipeg, RYAN McMAHON is making a name for himself as one of the most dynamic comedy performers working in Canada today. Considered a comedian that happens to be Native, rather than a Native comedian, McMahon steers clear of cultural stereotypes onstage, and instead, his live show combines standup, improv, and sketch comedy weaving hilarious stories, characters, and a very unique and original style of comedy. A graduate of the Second City Toronto Conservatory, and armed with a degree in theatre, McMahon is unlike any other Native comedian working today in Indian Country. McMahon is the creator/performer of, “The Clarence Two Toes Radio Show” and in 2008 this podcast received close to 30 000 downloads. Featured on iTunes Canada, and having created buzz wherever it goes, McMahon’s improvised comedy podcast has opened doors for sitcom development, live shows, and more. http://www.ryanmcmahoncomedy.com.

NIIGONWEDOM J. SINCLAIR is a graduate of the Native American Literatures program at the University of Oklahoma and is currently a PhD Candidate in the Department of English at the University of British Columbia. His dissertation is an Anishnaabeg Literary History. Niigon is originally from Ste. Peter’s (Little Peguis) Indian Reserve. His creative work has appeared in Prairie Fire and Tales from Mocassin Avenue: An Anthology of Native Stories. His scholarly work will appear in three upcoming critical texts with Broadview Press, Michigan State University Press, and Wilfred Laurier Press. He also writes a monthly column entitled Birchbark Bitings in Urban NDN, Winnipeg’s alternative Aboriginal newspaper.

WAB KINEW is a musician, athlete, promoter, sundancer, producer, writer, artist and opinionated aboriginal. He was born in Kenora, ON and raised with the traditions of the Lake of the Woods Ojibwe. At 21 he graduated with a B.A. in Economics from the University of Manitoba. He has walked the line between traditional and modern all his life, never compromising his integrity or relying on anything other than his skills along the way. Wab thinks that being an activist means being active, so you can probably find him performing for or playing sports with kids, rather than at a rally or demonstration. His time is currently devoted towards being a dad to his son Dominik, his rap group Dead Indians, his work at CBC Radio. http://www.myspace.com/wabdamuss.