Episode 62: Aisinna’kiiks Dinner Series
Bringing artists, students, educators, First Nations members and Elders together in conversation
In 2024, Calgary Arts Development hosted a dinner series at select high schools in the city that brought together members of the arts community, students and educators, First Nations members and Elders to share not just a meal, but stories and experiences. The series ended with presentations by the artists reflecting the conversations and learnings from each table.
“This particular dinner series is all about building good relations, and it is fantastic,” says Patti Pon, President and CEO of Calgary Arts Development. “There is nothing like being in space together, or as our Elders tell us here at this dinner series, in circle together, learning more about each other and understanding who we are and what our roles are inside that circle. And that’s what Aisinna’kiiks is all about.”
Hearing and sharing experiences, listening to poets and experiencing art had an impact on the students who were involved in the dinner series. As one of the students explains it, “It’s nice to like to be able to see Indigenous art from Indigenous people, especially when it’s, like, at a gathering.”
The Aisinna’kiiks Dinner Series serves to feed our curiosity and to explore different ways of being in a room of Indigenous and non-Indigenous cultures, which in turn helps lead us to the common ground that we all seek.
Tune into this episode of Living a Creative Life to learn more about Aisinna’kiiks and the creatives, students and Elders involved.
About the Living a Creative Life Web Series
As a salute to the thousands of Calgarians who are living creative lives, Calgary Arts Development has launched this web series to celebrate creative living in our city.
The Living a Creative Life web series, hosted by local activist and comedian Adora Nwofor and produced by Bamboo Shoots, will release a new episode each month, featuring stories of Calgarians living creatively.
Have a story to share? Email us at submissions@calgaryartsdevelopment.com.
Tune in and be sure to subscribe to the #yycLCL channel on YouTube for premiere reminders.