Kali Spitzer
Photographer
Kali Spitzer is a photographer living on the Traditional Unceded Lands of the Tsleil-Waututh, Skxwú7mesh and Musqueam peoples. The work of Kali embraces the stories of contemporary BIPOC, Queer and trans bodies, creating representation that is self determined. Kali’s collaborative process is informed by the desire to rewrite the visual histories of indigenous bodies beyond a colonial lens. Kali is Kaska Dena from Daylu (Lower Post, british columbia) on her father’s. Kali’s father is a survivor of residential schools and canadian genocide. On her Mother’s she is Jewish from Transylvania, Romania. Kali’s heritage deeply influences her work as she focuses on cultural revitalization through her art, whether in the medium of photography, ceramics, tanning hides or hunting.
Kali studied photography at the Institute of American Indian Arts, and the Santa Fe Community College. Under the mentorship of Will Wilson, Kali explored alternative processes of photography. She has worked with film in 35 mm, 120 and large format, as well as wet plate collodion process using an 8×10 camera. Her work includes portraits, figure studies and photographs of her people, ceremonies, and culture. At the age of 20, Kali moved back north to spend time with her Elders, and to learn how to hunt, fish, trap, tan moose and caribou hides, and bead. Throughout Kali’s career she has documented traditional practices with a sense of urgency, highlighting their vital cultural significance.
Kali’s work has been featured in exhibitions at galleries and museums internationally including, the National Geographic’s Women: a Century of Change at the National Geographic Museum (2020), and Larger than Memory: Contemporary Art From Indigenous North America at the Heard Museum (2020). In 2017 Kali received a Reveal Indigenous Art Award from Hnatyshyn Foundation.
Kali would like to extend her gratitude to all who have collaborated with her, she recognizes the trust and vulnerability required to be photographed in such intimate ways.
Mussi Cho
Soga Sénlá’
* Photo Credit: Byron Flesher
El Jones
Spoken word poet, educator, journalist, and community activist
El Jones is a spoken word poet, an educator, journalist, and community activist living in African Nova Scotia. She was the fifth Poet Laureate of Halifax. In 2016, Elwas a recipient of the Burnley “Rocky” Jones human rights award for her community work and work in prison justice.
She is a co-founder of the Black Power Hour, a live radio show with incarcerated people on CKDU that creates space for people inside to share their creative work and discuss contemporary social and political issues. El was appointed the Nancy’s Chair of Women’s Studies at Mount Saint Vincent University for the 2017-2019 term. She is a winner of two Atlantic Journalism gold awards in 2018 and 2019. Her book of spoken word poetry, Live from the Afrikan Resistance!, was published by Roseway Press in 2014.
El would like to pay tribute to the many nameless and unrecognized women whose work makes it possible for her to be here today.
Jules Arita Koostachin
Writer, performance artist, academic, and filmmaker
Jules Arita Koostachin is an InNiNew IsKwew (Swampy Cree woman) and a band member of Attawapiskat First Nation located in what is now called northern Ontario. Jules was raised by her Cree speaking grandparents in Moosonee, as well as in Ottawa with her mother, a residential school warrior. She is a graduate of Concordia University’s Theatre program and Ryerson University’s Documentary Media Master’s program.
In 2010, Jules was awarded an Award of Distinction and an Academic Gold Medal for her thesis documentary film Remembering Inninimowin. She is the mother of four incredible sons, a published writer, performance artist, an academic and an award-winning filmmaker. She is a PhD candidate with the Institute of Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Social Justice program at the University of British Columbia and her research focuses on Indigenous documentary practices.
Jules is represented by The Characters Talent Agency in Vancouver, and she is the voice of Layla (Molly’s mom) on the award-winning animated series Molly of Denali. Jules has also been actively working with Indigenous community supporting Indigenous women and children who face barriers. She hopes to continue shedding light on socio-political issues that urban and rural Indigenous peoples face.
In conversation with: Gloria Macarenko
Gloria Macarenko is the host of CBC Vancouver’s afternoon show On The Coast, where she explores the day’s news and local communities. Gloria is also host of CBC Television’s Our Vancouver, a current affairs program that focuses on the city’s diverse culture, as well as The Story from Here, a national Radio One show that brings Canadians lively and intriguing interviews from across the country.
Previously, Macarenko hosted CBC Radio One’s B.C. Almanac where she connected with British Columbians through conversation. Prior to that, Macarenko hosted the award-winning television newscast CBC News Vancouver. She has twice been nominated for the Gemini Awards in the category of “Best News Anchor” in Canada.
Gloria Macarenko is an award-winning journalist and senior leader on the news team. In her time with CBC, she has been awarded a Jack Webster Award for “Best News Reporting”, and multiple RTNDA Awards including The Peter Gzowski Award for Best National News Information Program. Gloria has guest-hosted on The National and CBC News Now.
Macarenko’s relationship with British Columbia goes far beyond the newsroom. You can see her volunteering and hosting for organizations such as Arts Umbrella, Dr. Peter Centre for HIV/AIDS, BC Cancer Foundation, the Gordon Smith Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Canada, the Prince Rupert Foundation and the International Women’s Forum. Her charitable work in the community and contributions to Canadian broadcasting were recognized when she became a member of the Order of Canada in 2018. The Order of Canada recognizes outstanding contributions to the nation and is one of the highest civilian honours in the country.
Born and raised in Prince Rupert, her travels take her around B.C. When not in the host chair, or on the road, she can be found enjoying a good book or sampling the spectacular culinary adventures Vancouver is known for.