The Divine Ms. M

imagineNATIVE is my most favourite of film festivals. It is an epic international Film + Media Arts Festival born of and happening in Toronto, which hits every fall. Celebrating indigenous peoples from around the world who are creating cutting edge film, video, radio, and new media. Presenting a juried selection of  the most incredible, honest, provoking and beautiful indigenous works from around the globe.

Part of their mission statement as stated on their website, ‘imagineNATIVE is committed to dispelling stereotypical notions of Indigenous peoples through diverse media presentations from within our communities, thereby contributing to a greater understanding by audiences of Indigenous artistic expression.’ Hells yea. And they do it more than well.

To me, imagineNATIVE  as an entity, is a visionary leader. Filling the gap of showcasing qualitative indigenous artistic content, it exhibits to the world the work of Native filmmakers and media artists. Artists who weave art into fiction, into film, into mixed media, into music; of their cultural and traditional landscapes which are generally and otherwise under or misrepresented. An excellent, prolific  example of such misrepresentations throughout cinematic history (and in affect, general history) is the documentary film, ‘Reel Injun’ by Cree film-maker, Neil Diamond. Watch it. Get schooled, or un-schooled. Or bliss out on the unabashed truths of what you already know; being spread, world-wide.

Being a new-ish Momma and all, I can’t go to all of the events I get tickets to, or desire to go to. It was a lovely perk of my past life (heh heh); busy body career woman demise, to receive VIP tix to just about any Native media/arts/cultural event in Toronto; sometimes Canada and the States. Many of those connections have flourished on into today, although I have made the choice work from home and put some back-burner dreams on the forefront. So I’m not returning to my position at The Native Canadian Centre of Toronto. Very hard decision. But that’s another story. And there’s my digression for today.

Anyhhhoooooo, Momma’s get to go out sometimes too! This is my point. The BSM stayed home with our wee lad and one my best-girl’s young lady, so that us Momma’s could go shake some bootay at an exclusive imagineNATIVE event. Hosted at Lee’s Palace, featuring the fresh like styles of Inez , Red Slam and Martha Redbone. Dang the women on the bill were serious. Seriously sexy, oozing with talent and intelligence all at the same time. I must say, that Ms. Redbone was the highlight for me, as I had never heard of nor seen her perform or heard tracks of her music before. I was blown away. I’m the sort of soul who gets carried away into a world of ecstasy, I-dont-care-who’s-watching movement and sheer delight.  Give me  soulful voice, dirty beats, funky grooves and the raw, let-loose passionate voice fused with Contemporary Native American styles like that of that Choctaw, Cherokee, Shawnee and African- American mixed goddess Martha Redbone, who can let it rip right up from her tummy, deep down. Then I’m there. In that magical place. Shining beads of dance produced perspiration and generally blissing out. Have a looksee for yourself:

This is her, in all of her sheer shell magnificence:

Source

Source

Source

Source: me & my love o’hipstamatic

Here we are are in all of our sheer magnificence?

Source: me & her fabulousness

Note the pic of the raven short-haired beauty with the suprem-o lens? That’s the first SOURCE in action. Red Works founder and photographer, Nadya Kwandiebens. She’s the serious talent who did our pre-natal shoot. Some of which are here.

We ended the night by coming back to my house, where our boys were jamming out and having their own wee party. Always entertaining. Don’t kill me baby! Yer cute Mills. S’alright.

Peace out loverlies!