Entertainment and Cultural Performances
Dancers Kwena Bellemare Boivin and Owen Mayo
Owen and Kwena are a couple whose lives have always been guided by the heartbeat of the powwow drum.
Both have been dancing since they could walk, and their love for powwow has taken them all across Turtle Island. They first met over ten years ago at a powwow, became partners through dance, and three years ago, they were married at a powwow — a true full circle moment. Together, they’re now a family of five — Owen, Kwena, Nashtyn, Mahikan, and Nehirah — all champion powwow dancers who travel and compete across North America, from Florida and California to Manitoba, New Mexico, Ontario, and Quebec.
Kwena is also a championship hand drum singer and a backup vocalist with the well-known drum group Black Bear.
Through their songs, their dance, and their family, Owen and Kwena continue to carry the spirit of the powwow trail wherever they go.
Janelle Niles
Janelle Niles is a Two-spirit Black – Mi’kmaq woman from Sipekne’katik (seh-beh-gen-nehh-gah-dii), First Nation in Nova Scotia. She has performed for many festivals such as Just For Laughs, Winnipeg Comedy Festival and Crackup Comedy Festival. She’s also appeared on Family Feud Canada, CTV’s Battle of the Generations and APTN’s Michif Country. Janelle is a full-time stand-up comedian, EMCEE, content creator, TV Personality and producer of Got Land? Indigenous comedy show. She hopes one day to perform in New York City. Her humour is described as eccentric yet captivating.
Click here to learn more about Janelle.
Midnight Renegade
Midnight Renegade is a country rock band based out of Québec. They were voted the number 1 country rock band from 2010-2014 in Québec, and they will be celebrating 15 years together as a band next year! Midnight Renegade performs all over the province and are looking to expand nationwide. They play everything from classic country to country rock and new age country, and they also dabble in rock and roll and other genres of music.
Band members consist of:
Lead singer and rhythm guitar: TJ Thirlwell
Bass and vocals: Frank Zachary
Lead guitar: Wally Peterson
Drums: Danny Lefebvre
Ottawa River Singers
The Ottawa River Singers is a drum group of First Nations men and women singers. The singers of the group live in Ottawa, but their families are from Northern Ontario and Manitoulin Island. They have been singing together in the Capital region for over 8 years. The songs they sing have many different meanings often including uplifting words of encouragement to those who are listening. The drum is the heartbeat of mother earth and is the center of their culture. The beat of the drum combined with the collective sounds of their voices is a medicine that can uplift and carry others in a positive way.
