Indigenous Beauty | Celebrating Winter Solstice through Song

with Cynthia Jim and Tia Wood
Hosted by Shadae Rose Johnson

REGISTER

Indigenous Beauty is a new program series presented by the Vancouver Art Gallery to amplify and centre Indigenous voices, providing a platform for Indigenous peoples to define themselves.

Join us for a celebratory session on December 20 in honour of the Winter Solstice. Host Shadae Rose Johnson, Community Relations Coordinator of Indigenous Programs, will be joined by internationally renowned singers, artists and Powwow dancers—and mother and daughter, Cynthia Jim (Coast Salish) and Tia Wood (Cree/Coast Salish). Special guests, CJ Thunder Spirit (Big Stone Cree Nation) and Demetrius Kenoras-Paul (Musqueam, Syilx and Secwepemc) will also perform a few songs.

Across Turtle Island, Winter Solstice marks a time for many to hold celebrations, reflect, tell stories, give thanks and appreciate the current moment. Celebrations also allow for community to practice Indigenous food and plant medicine sovereignty. This session with Jim, Wood and guests will offer a communal opportunity to decolonize winter holiday celebrations, living in the moment of togetherness and sacredness of the home fire. Walk in Beauty. Walking the Red Road.

This talk will be presented on Zoom and streamed live to the Gallery’s Facebook account here »

Questions? Submit them during the Zoom presentation using the Q&A function. You can also engage with your fellow attendees and panelists during the event using the Chat function.

New to Zoom? Learn how to register and attend a webinar here »

CALL FOR SUMBISSIONS

As this series evolves, we invite Indigenous peoples from across Turtle Island to submit their program proposals for participation in an upcoming Indigenous Beauty presentation.

For more information and to submit your proposal, please contact Shadae Rose Johnson, Community Relations Coordinator of Indigenous Programs at sjohnson@vanartgallery.bc.ca.

Walk in Beauty. #VAGIndigenousBeauty

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Cynthia Jim is proud mother to three daughters (Fawn, Raven and Tia Wood), one son (Wiser Cree Woods) and two adopted sons (Jackson and Pearson Tahuka). She is also a grandmother to eight grandchildren. brings a fusion of cultural integrity with contemporary systems into every aspect of her working career. Jim engages critical inquiry through multiple frameworks, including traditional song, storytelling, dance, music, traditional protocols/processes, traditional Laws of Life and performance. She is the lead singer/composer for a family drum group and a sweat lodge keeper. Her journey of adversity has facilitated a worldview that nourishes and infuses a diversity of relationship-building methodologies and teachings. Jim is currently a member of the Fine Arts department at the University of Victoria and En’owkin Center. She is also a cultural competency facilitator for BC Hydro, Work BC and Skills Training Centers.

Tia Wood is a 21-year-old Cree/Salish singer living on Treaty 6 Territory. Wood was the youngest of five and grew up in Saddle Lake, AB. Influenced by her Northern Cree heritage, Randy Wood and her parents, Wood developed her own creativity and artistry for music. She intertwines both traditional and modern day singing into one. Since joining TikTok almost two years ago, Wood (@tiamiscihk) has garnered an impressive following of over 2.1 million fans, and she uses to platform to spread awareness of Indigenous issues, song and appreciation for culture.