Kimiwan Plans to Celebrate Year of Telling Indigenous Stories
- Andréa Ledding | December 17, 2013
Kimiwan Zine is celebrating a one year anniversary on December 20, launching issue number five at Saskatoon's Amigo's cantina with Bear Witness from A Tribe Called Red, musician Nick Sherman, and Ryan McMahon, comedian and podcast host extraordinaire among others.
"Since it's our first year anniversary it's a special edition, sponsored by Legacy Interactive, Tribe Inc., and Semaganis Worme to do a special issue, this time around the theme of 'regeneration,' so we put the call out," explained Jarita Greyeyes, one of four young women running the zine. Founded by Joi Arcand after seeing and working with "Rain Zine" in Vancouver, she returned with a vision and got to work. Mika Lafond signed on as editor in the initial stages, and currently Jarita and Joi along with Leah Arcand, Melody Wood, and language advisor Daryl Chamakese (Kimiwan is Cree for "rain"!) fill out the volunteer committee, which prints the zines on a cost-recovery basis, fundraising to keep it going via shows, special events, and merchandise.
"For us, we do this out of a place of love and a desire to support and promote all of the wonderful work people are doing."
Joi's initial vision included not only a place for Indigenous people to tell their stories and show their art in a way that's really accessible but to make a zine accessible so that every person who comes across it feels inspired to possibly do the same. Every issue features art, photography, short stories, and is a beautiful work of art in and of itself.
There will be a sneak peek of the issue at the December 20 launch featuring songs and poetry and first person accounts, and a fundraiser for their 6th issue in March, on February 19 during Reading Week, featuring A Tribe Called Red.
"We're very active on social media so we put out the call, and it gets shares, likes, retweets," explains Jarita, adding that from New Zealand to the USA and beyond, there is an international Indigenous network of people who post and the social media goes "viral" through those networks.
"Joi's goal was for some young person to look at it and say, I can do this so that's the end goal, that other people will look to Rain and Kimiwan and go, 'I can do this, too,' and the next generation can feel empowered to tell the stories."
Tickets are $12 in advance for the December 20 Amigo's event, and more info can be found at their website. The accompanying art show will be installed from December 15 to January 15 at Amigo's.