10/01/2022
Listening. Honouring. Grateful.
Indigenous artist K̓esugwilakw (Sierra Tasi Baker) has made their work Nexw7áyentsut (Transform Oneself) available to stream for 48 hours surrounding the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. bit.ly/3CkYMc3
It will be available from 2pm Thursday Sept 29 to 2pm Saturday Oct 1 (PDT). Read more below:
"Hal7h skwáyel túniyap, my name is K̓esugwilakw, Sierra Tasi Baker, (they/she/he) and I’m from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxumixw. I’m also Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, Łingít and Magyar. I am an Indigiqueer dancer, choreographer and Urban Designer.
If you’re in a space today to listen to a vulnerable dance piece created with the intention of processing my thoughts and feelings about colonization, from my perspective as a Host Nation person doing their best to thrive despite colonialism, then please follow the link to the film. I’ve titled the piece Nexw7áyentsut, which loosely translates to “Transform Oneself” in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim. It will only be available for a short time out of respect for the vulnerability in this piece and for the Day of Truth and Reconciliation.
This is a process based piece. The spoken word was recorded in one sitting after a movement session processing grief and trauma. The noises of the city in the background reflect the feelings of the weight and heaviness of colonial imposition.
The soundtrack was developed in collaboration with my nephew Sekawnee Baker, an Afro-Indigenous sound producer, artist and athlete.
The dance itself is improv and was performed 4 times at different locations. Notably at X̱wáy̓x̱way and Skwácháy̓s, locations where my ancestors and families were forcibly removed from to make way for the concrete and glass that we call Vancouver.
The movement processing was developed with guidance from Olivia Davies, Anishinaabe, who brought medicine wheel teachings into the work to inform the healing. This piece was performed with the intention of transformation, of myself, the city, and our collective healing. Please view with kindness and gentleness.
Chen wanáxwstúmiyap,
(Respectfully)
K̓esugwilakw"
This work was commissioned by DanceHouse in collaboration with Matriarchs Uprising. Videography by Hemstock Films.