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ReFrame 2022 Opening Night!




Keynote address by Tanya Talaga

Musical performance by Ansley Simpson

Opening ceremony by Elder Shirley Williams


Thursday, January 27, 7pm EST


Tanya Talaga is an Anishinaabe journalist and speaker. Talaga’s mother’s family is from Fort William First Nation and her father was Polish-Canadian. For more than 20 years, she was a journalist at the Toronto Star covering everything from health to education, investigations and Queen’s Park. She’s been nominated five times for the Michener Award in public service journalism. Her first book, Seven Fallen Feathers, is a national bestseller, winning the RBC Taylor Prize, the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, and the First Nation Communities Read Award: Young Adult/Adult.


Mashkawi-Manidoo Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soarco-directed by Talaga and Michelle Derosier, is a documentary film inspired by Seven Fallen Feathers. The film looks at how the idea for the book came to Talaga when she travelled to Thunder Bay as a newspaper journalist covering a federal election. While there, she learned the story of the seven First Nations high school students who had died between 2000 and 2011. In the wake of an inquest into the mysterious deaths, Mashkawi-Manidoo Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soar, explores how the youth’s families and communities have struggled to carry on while pursuing justice for their loved ones and equity for First Nations people.


Ansley Simpson is a Michi Saagiig Nishnaabe musician, artist, writer and member of Alderville First Nation known for poetic lyrics, deeply moving vocal-only performances, and dream-like arrangements. The Tkaronto-based songwriter garnered two Indigneous Music Nominations and won Best New Artist in 2018 for their debut album “Breakwall”. In 2021, their collaborative work on Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s album “Theory of Ice'' landed a coveted place on the shortlist for the Polaris Prize. Ansley’s a natural performer that holds audiences spellbound with story-telling embedded both in and out of their songs. Their original score enlivened the powerful message throughout Tanya Talaga’s award-winning documentary “Spirit to Soar''. Ansley’s highly anticipated sophomore album “She Fell from the Sky'' is a journey through Indigenous reclamation coming out in 2022 on their label Gizhiiwe (GIH jzee way). For more information visit: www.ansleysimpson.com.


Elder Shirley Williams is a member of the Bird Clan of the Ojibway and Odawa First Nations of Canada. Her Anishinaabe name is Migizi ow Kwe meaning Eagle Woman. She was born and raised at Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island and attended St. Joseph’s Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. After completing her NS diploma, she received her BA in Native Studies at Trent Univer-sity and her Native Language Instructors Program diploma from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Shirley received her Master’s Degree from York University in Environmental Studies. In June of 2004, Shirley retired from Trent Universtity's Indigenous Studies Department and now holds the title, Professor Emeritus.



Content warning: the film program Mashkawi-Manidoo Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soar and the keynote address may discuss experiences of attending Residential Schools, and children who have gone missing.


Links for support:


The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program (IRSRHSP) provides safe, confidential, respectful, and non-judgmental mental health and emotional support services to eligible former Indian Residential School students and their families.

Crisis Line provides immediate emotional support for former Indian Residential School students. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call 1-866-925-4419


Native Women's Association of Canada Elder Support Line | Canada-Wide

Available Monday-Friday 9AM-11AM EST & 1PM-3PM EST

Call 888-664-7808


First Nations, Métis & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line | Canada-Wide

If you’re experiencing emotional distress and want to talk, call the First Nations, Métis & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line, available 24/7, Canada-wide. 

Call 1-855-242-3310

ReFrame 2022 Opening Night!




Keynote address by Tanya Talaga

Musical performance by Ansley Simpson

Opening ceremony by Elder Shirley Williams


Thursday, January 27, 7pm EST


Tanya Talaga is an Anishinaabe journalist and speaker. Talaga’s mother’s family is from Fort William First Nation and her father was Polish-Canadian. For more than 20 years, she was a journalist at the Toronto Star covering everything from health to education, investigations and Queen’s Park. She’s been nominated five times for the Michener Award in public service journalism. Her first book, Seven Fallen Feathers, is a national bestseller, winning the RBC Taylor Prize, the Shaughnessy Cohen Prize for Political Writing, and the First Nation Communities Read Award: Young Adult/Adult.


Mashkawi-Manidoo Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soarco-directed by Talaga and Michelle Derosier, is a documentary film inspired by Seven Fallen Feathers. The film looks at how the idea for the book came to Talaga when she travelled to Thunder Bay as a newspaper journalist covering a federal election. While there, she learned the story of the seven First Nations high school students who had died between 2000 and 2011. In the wake of an inquest into the mysterious deaths, Mashkawi-Manidoo Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soar, explores how the youth’s families and communities have struggled to carry on while pursuing justice for their loved ones and equity for First Nations people.


Ansley Simpson is a Michi Saagiig Nishnaabe musician, artist, writer and member of Alderville First Nation known for poetic lyrics, deeply moving vocal-only performances, and dream-like arrangements. The Tkaronto-based songwriter garnered two Indigneous Music Nominations and won Best New Artist in 2018 for their debut album “Breakwall”. In 2021, their collaborative work on Leanne Betasamosake Simpson’s album “Theory of Ice'' landed a coveted place on the shortlist for the Polaris Prize. Ansley’s a natural performer that holds audiences spellbound with story-telling embedded both in and out of their songs. Their original score enlivened the powerful message throughout Tanya Talaga’s award-winning documentary “Spirit to Soar''. Ansley’s highly anticipated sophomore album “She Fell from the Sky'' is a journey through Indigenous reclamation coming out in 2022 on their label Gizhiiwe (GIH jzee way). For more information visit: www.ansleysimpson.com.


Elder Shirley Williams is a member of the Bird Clan of the Ojibway and Odawa First Nations of Canada. Her Anishinaabe name is Migizi ow Kwe meaning Eagle Woman. She was born and raised at Wikwemikong, Manitoulin Island and attended St. Joseph’s Residential School in Spanish, Ontario. After completing her NS diploma, she received her BA in Native Studies at Trent Univer-sity and her Native Language Instructors Program diploma from Lakehead University in Thunder Bay. Shirley received her Master’s Degree from York University in Environmental Studies. In June of 2004, Shirley retired from Trent Universtity's Indigenous Studies Department and now holds the title, Professor Emeritus.



Content warning: the film program Mashkawi-Manidoo Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soar and the keynote address may discuss experiences of attending Residential Schools, and children who have gone missing.


Links for support:


The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program (IRSRHSP) provides safe, confidential, respectful, and non-judgmental mental health and emotional support services to eligible former Indian Residential School students and their families.

Crisis Line provides immediate emotional support for former Indian Residential School students. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Call 1-866-925-4419


Native Women's Association of Canada Elder Support Line | Canada-Wide

Available Monday-Friday 9AM-11AM EST & 1PM-3PM EST

Call 888-664-7808


First Nations, Métis & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line | Canada-Wide

If you’re experiencing emotional distress and want to talk, call the First Nations, Métis & Inuit Hope for Wellness Help Line, available 24/7, Canada-wide. 

Call 1-855-242-3310