Nimkii danced in his mother’s womb

Nimkii Osawamick, Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, demonstrates hoop dancing.
Nimkii Osawamick, Wikwemikong Unceded Indian Reserve, demonstrates hoop dancing.

By Christine Smith McFarlane

TORONTO – Nimkii Osawamick is 22 years old, but the Wikwemikong  performing artist says he’s been dancing longer than that.

“I have been dancing since I was three years old, even though I believe I have been dancing since I was inside my mother’s womb. Dancing has been a way for me to stay out of trouble, and be on a good path in life.”

Osawamick was  invited to teach a dance workshop at the Southern Youth in Motion (SYiM) initiative, a youth-led and art-based initiative which is a part of the Mamow Sha-way-gi-kay-win: North-South Partnership for Children.

Three dozen participants, ages ranged from 16-24, and youth came from Kingston, Oshawa, Oakville, Mississauga, Toronto, Thunder Bay, Keewaywin, Wapekeka, Fort Hope, Webequie, Deer Lake, Neskantaga and Kasabonika.

Mamow Sha-way-gi-kay-win has been a registered Canadian charity since 2010, but since 2007 has been building supportive and long-term relationships between southern-based organizations and First Nations people and communities in Northern Ontario.

What started as an advocacy campaign to raise awareness about the living conditions of First Nations in Northern Ontario has now grown into a place for youth from the North and South to come together, share their experiences, and learn from one another through the arts. The program is based on the belief that using art as a vehicle for self-expression provides a platform for youth to discuss the challenges they face, and also share their goals, dreams and aspirations with their peers.

Osawamick’s dance workshop focused not only on hoop dancing but also teaching basic pow-wow steps, drum teachings, motion meanings and what Osawamick has learned about the origins of dance.

“Teaching this dance workshop today is my first opportunity with this initiative to share the gifts I’ve been given along my journey,” said Osawamick,  a performing dance artist and actor who is currently running his own business promoting Native Awareness called DNA Stage.

Other activities involved in the two-day showcase included visual arts, beading, and photography workshops, each of which were co-facilitated by southern and northern artists.

“I think it’s really awesome that there is a place like the SYiM North-South Partnership for Children,” said Osawamick. “It’s pretty important for our youth today to have something like this, to have a chance to express themselves through the arts. I am also getting into the same things, so this is good to see.”

The highlight of the two-day showcase was a re-naming ceremony in which participants collaborated on a proposal to call SYiM “Four Directions Youth in Action”.