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 group is made up of 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. This performance includes an audience participation component. 

ODAWA WIINGUSHK | OTTAWA SWEETGRASS

Current 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 was selected as a three year Fellow for the International Society for the Performing Arts, is the Project Manager for Mola Dulad Media Collective's Ancestral Future's Project and is currently at the Royal Ontario Museum as an Indigenous Knowledge Resource Teacher and Coordinator for the ROM Youth Cabinet. Leslie is also the Administrator for the Indigenous Theatre Collective - Chocolate Woman, a Resident Artist Educator at Young People's Theatre and works independently with Kaha:wi Dance Theatre and Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto.


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LINDY KINOSHAMEG

​Lindy was raised on Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada, on the largest freshwater island in the world and is a proud member of Wikwemikong Unceded First Nation.

Lindy has been an artist from a young age, from drawing to dancing, facilitating and co-managing many projects throughout his community, he has been a respected community leader within the arts.

Lindy moved to Toronto at the age of 19 and has continued to expand his love for the arts by immersing himself into the Indigenous arts community, facilitating workshops and performing throughout the city.

Lindy continues to be involved in the arts through: stage management, acrylic painting, shadow puppetry, silk screening, prop and set design, traditional dance, beadwork and continues his position as Community Engagement Facilitator at Young Peoples Theatre and Assistant Production Coordinator for Harbourfront Centre.

Lindy has always had a keen visual eye and has been actively exhibiting his work across Ontario, with various commissions that include work for: The University of Toronto, Seneca College, First Nations House Magazine and multiple sales, nationally and internationally.
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