Urban Renewal was an opportunity for Sâkêwêwak Artists' Collective to engage three Aboriginal artists from Regina and provide them with production funds and facilities to support the development of new work.
Sâkêwêwak Artists' Collective has always experienced a great demand for providing production opportunities, facilities and/or resources as well as acting as a catalyst for ideas and actions from within our community. Sâkêwêwak has played an important role in assisting working Aboriginal artists in the development and completion of projects, as well as accomplishing their artistic goals.
All of our featured artists brought viable skills and marvellous ideas to the project and completed new media pieces that reflect the indigenous perspective in modern society.
Gabriel Yahyahkeekoot a Cree originally from the Beardy's and OKemasis First Nation, is a multi-disciplinary artist. Primarily a poet, Gabriel has been able to link his poetry into filmmaking, radio, magazine and live performances. Much of his work stems from his personal experiences and the place where he grew up - and still calls home - Regina.
Though most of the work is dark, it is truthful, as he believes shock value can only come from exposing truths. In his new project Gabriel is exploring the ugliness of human behaviour with a piece entitled Māyàtisiw.
Māyàtisiw - 50.6 mb - Play Movie
Michael Obey is producing a Dramatic piece entitled Ah-Ki, How Hockey Got Its Name.
The story revolves around two young Aboriginal boys rescued from Residential School by their grandfather and brought to the city, where they experience difficulty fitting in. That is until they discover their natural talent for the game of hockey. It is this talent that leads and teaches them about the hardships of life, and how to overcome those burdens.
Ah-Ki, How Hockey Got Its Name - 48.3 mb - Play Movie
David Jarocki a Métis from Regina, is producing his first documentary piece entitled Begging for Buskers.
As an emerging artist, David's goal is to bring awareness to the lives of the artist's spiritual inspirations and aspirations, and comments from the people affected by them. David will be featuring three Regina performers, John Keepness, Burt Adamack and Cecil Armistead.
Begging for Buskers - 56.9 mb - Play Movie