In keeping in line with popular culture rags all over North America – I’m compiling a list of things that blew my mind in 2009 from around Indian Country.  Here it is below:

Sonny Assu at Equinox Gallery

Sonny Assu – This Vancouver, BC based visual artist caught my eye when I stumbled onto his website a few years ago and he continues to change the game with his iDrums series.  I caught some of his earlier work when he was using pop culture iconography (Spiderman, The Simpsons, Coke) mixed with a blend of traditional Coast Salish style on handdrums.  That series of work blew my mind and his new works continue to examine how pop culture/tech culture juxtaposes our polarized cultures.  His website is here.

Waawaate Fobister

Waawaate Fobister – This young man from Treaty #3 made HUGE waves this year in the Toronto Theatre Community.  He won 6 Dora Mavor Moore Awards in 2009, presented in Toronto, to the Toronto theatre community (words cannot describe how huge this is) for his play AGOKWE which examined his own deeply personal story about being Two-Spirited and growing up on Grassy Narrows First Nation.  What’s next for Waawaate – ANYTHING HE WANTS.

Wab Kinew at Level 2 Nightclub

Wab Kinew – his album dropped in January 2009 and his name continues to grow both in the mainstream and across Indian Country.  He’s a hip hop artist, media guy, Sundancer and he’s met OBAMA. What more do you want?  Oh ya, he won BEST RAP ALBUM at the APCMA’s this year, he’s got his own radio show on CBC (The 204), and he’s delivering killer stories on the CBC evening news.  More than impressive in his artistic endeavours, Wab tweeted the other day that he’s setting out to bring Anishinaabemowin back in 2010.  Inspiring.  Get his album in iTunes and his facebook group is here.

Waub Rice - Indian Country's Answer to Brad Pitt

Waub Rice – one of the most solid dudes I’ve ever met – he’s writing a book and Theytus is publishing it for him.  Waub has a blog that I’m locked onto and we should all be ready to run out and by that book when it’s out.  If there’s a rock show happening – you’ll see him at at.  Find him on twitter here.

Plex – Plex’s album, BRAINSTORM, is getting alot of play around the country and if you listen to it – you’ll be better off for it.  His crew at New Leaf Entertainment have a whole bunch of “things” on tap for 2010 and the lyrics that he spits make me want to be a better person.  One to speak the truth, Plex is one of those artists in Indian Country that has that crossover thing happening and instead of “going after the mainstream” the “mainstream goes to Plex.”  Get his album at the New Leaf Entertainment website or on iTunes.

Alan Greyeyes

Alan Greyeyes – One of the “people that make things happen”, Alan is a real leader and someone you ought to pay attention to.  This guy is the person behind Aboriginal Music Week, a 5 day music festival with shows, workshops, and more,  here in Winnipeg during the Manito Ahbee Weekend, he’s on the board of the APCMA’s, and is one of the largest supporters of Indian Music and it’s scene that I’ve ever come across.  His twitter account says he’s “been rapping for like 300 years” and I wouldn’t doubt it – the dude is amazing.

Lisa Charleyboy

Lisa Charleyboy - she writes a blog called Urban Native Girl and it covers pop culture, fashion and all things cool – with an Indigenous Twist.  She covers fashion, Indigenous Culture, art, theatre, film and she features ass kickers from across Indian Country in her feature called Urban Warriors which caught my eye this year.  Check her blog here and keep your eye out for more Urban Warrior posts – they’re one of my favourite blog posts I read.

Darrell Dennis - Creator, ReVision Quest

CBC & ReVision Quest - I was honoured to do some voice work on ReVision Quest this past season and I was blown away with the content on the show, what the show says and does, and the team involved are not only super smart but WAY WAY WAY progressive in their approach to all things in Indian Country.  Led by actor/writer Darrell Dennis, the show’s material is smart, honest and brutally funny.  Check their website here and keep your eye out for the 2010 season of Revision Quest.  Darrell is also the creator of the APTN pilot, “Tales of an Urban Indian” which aired on APTN in December of 2009.

The Bionic Bannock Boys

Bionic Bannock Boys – the current King’s of Indian Sketch Comedy, I was lucky enough to be asked to be a part of their Season 1 taping of their sketch comedy show, The Bionic Bannock Boys, scheduled to premiere on APTN sometime in 2010.  The “Bannock Boys” are full fledged “Rezified Indian Humourists” which I’m not a fan of…USUALLY…but working with these guys was the most fun I’ve ever had.  The have a Monty Python’esque style and delivery in their form and they are flat out, balls to the wall funny.  Find them on their website and on facebook.

Aboriginal Day Live – Some of you might believe I only listed this one because I was the Co-Host of the Whitehorse, Yukon stage for the APTN broadcast of “Aboriginal Day Live 2009.”  You’re half right in saying that – more importantly though – the theme of the event was “Our Time To Shine” and that’s just what we did.  With talent in Whitehorse, Yukon like Derek Miller, Crystal Shawanda, Kinnie Starr and more, and with the Winnipeg show headlined by Buffy St. Marie, Eagle and Hawk, George Leach and Joey Stylez, the event shares everything that is beautiful about our culture.  Awesome.  My blogpost of my experience is found here.

Tatanka Means & Christine Means (Begay) – This young (newly married) couple is down in the US making waves in their effort in producing the Native American Indigenous Image Awards.  I was nominated BEST COMEDIAN at those awards (I lost to James and Ernie) in 2009 and I was stoked to see an event that honoured musicians/actors/writers/directors/media/documentarians because I don’t think we do that enough across Indian Country.  I am inspired by their energy and commitment to bringing the best of the best into the limelight as we move into making ourselves relevant in the maintstream.  Peep Tatanka’s website and his clothing company here.  For the record – I think Tatanka’s clothes are the nicest in Indian Country.

Clarence Two Toes – To me, maybe the best accident to ever happen to me, Clarence Two Toes has taken on a life of it’s own through 2009 and beyond.  It’s a character I play and he might be the most fun I have onstage.  Opinionated, loud and sometimes brash – Two Toes comes correct when he’s on a microphone and he doesn’t shy away from the ugly.  I wanted to list him because I wanted to take time to thank everyone that watches the videos, reads the blogs and continues to support me in my comedy career.  Without you guys and gals – I wouldn’t do comedy.

Knowing I missed some ass-kickers from around Indian Country – why not leave a comment on this blog post and let me know who I missed.  Thanks for reading and continue to support your local artists.

aboriginal aboriginal day live aboriginal music aboriginal music week aptn bionic bannock boys cbc manitoba clarence two toes lisa charleyboy national aboriginal day native america native american native american comedy native earth performing arts plex revision quest sonny assu tatanka means waawaate fobister wab kinew waub rice whitehorse yukon