ODAWA WIINGUSHK
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Our Story

Odawa Wiingushk tells the story of three Indigenous Nations from Turtle Island (North America) coming together through dance. The was founded by three dancers, Lindy Kinoshameg from the Odawa Nation, Leslie Mccue from the Michi Saagiig Nation, and Jillian Sutherland from the Cree Nation, whose paths first crossed in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The three of them come together from three separate communities and represent three different dance styles to form Odawa Wiingushk.

Wiingushk (Sweetgrass) is one of the four medicines considered sacred to many Indigenous groups from Turtle Island and is often found braided together. Individual blades of grass can be damaged easily, but when braided together, form an unbreakable bond. This braid symbolizes the coming together of Odawa Wiingushk, each strand representing the past, the present, and our collective future. 

Odawa Wiingushk highlights the Fancy Shawl, a dance which imitates the graceful beauty of a butterfly, a storytelling dance connecting to our relationship with the animals called the Prairie Chicken style and the Traditional Dance representing the strength of women who are the backbone of our communities, life-givers, life sustainers and water carriers, in a dynamic and engaging performance for all. Odawa Wiingushk often invites other dancers and styles to be braided into their performance to highlight a variety of dance styles on the Powwow Trail. Performances often include an audience participation component. 

ODAWA WIINGUSHK | OTTAWA SWEETGRASS

Founding Members

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JILLIAN SUTHERLAND

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Jillian is Cree from Fort Albany First Nation. She is an arts enthusiast, pow-wow dancer, and student.

​She is a recent graduate of the Creative Industries Program at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where she studied many creative fields, while also gaining a specialization in business, communications, and the music industry.

Since graduating she hopes to work with an arts organization that offers artistic resources to Indigenous youth. Jillian has been an administrative and artistic force within community working for various organizations and dancing within community powwows all over Turtle Island (Canada).
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​LESLIE MCCUE

Leslie Kachena McCue is a member of the Mississaugas of Curve Lake First Nation, currently living and working in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Leslie is an artist who also works freelance for various organizations in performance, arts administration, facilitation, project coordination and curation. Her work is driven by her past, her passion to educate, and the motivation to empower others.
 

Leslie is the Lead Indigenous Museum Educator at the Royal Ontario Museum and Coordinator for the ROM Youth Cabinet. Leslie is also the Administrator for the Indigenous Theatre Collective - Chocolate Woman, and works independently on contract throughout the Indigenous Arts Scene.


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LINDY KINOSHAMEG

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Lindy grew up in beautiful Wiikwemkoong Unceded First Nation on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada - the largest freshwater island in the world.

Lindy has been an artist from a young age, from sketching, to painting, to wood-working, and dancing, which has led to exhibitions and Commission's. Lindy facilitates and co-manages many projects with many Toronto organizations as a leader within the Indigenous arts community.

Lindy continues to be involved in the arts through: painting, shadow puppetry, silk screening, stage management, prop and set design, dance, beadwork, and storytelling. Holding recent positions as Community Engagement Facilitator at Young Peoples Theatre, Assistant Production Coordinator at Harbourfront Centre, and currently as the Program Manager for the RBC Future Leaders at Outside Looking In. 


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