Leanne Betasamosake Simpson band & Cris Derksen

Cris Derksen is an Indigenous cellist and composer known for building layers of sound into captivating performances. Originally from Northern Alberta, she traces a line of chiefs from North Tall Cree reserve on her father’s side and a line of strong Mennonite homesteaders on her mother’s side. The 2016 Instrumental Album Juno Nominee braids the traditional and contemporary in multiple dimensions, weaving her traditional classical training and her Aboriginal ancestry with new school electronics, creating genre-bending music.

Leanne Betasamosake Simpson is a renowned Michi Saagiig Nishnaabeg artist, musician, poet and writer who is equally successful in the creative and academic worlds. Widely recognized as one of the most compelling Indigenous voices of her generation, Leanne’s work breaks open the boundaries between story and song, creating rich and layered worlds. She was named the inaugural RBC Charles Taylor Emerging writer by Thomas King.

Leanne’s 2014 debut album, Islands of Decolonial Love, combines poetry, short stories, and musical collaborations with A Tribe Called Red, Cris Derksen, and Sean Conway. The accompanying book of short stories and poetry of the same name was nominated for a 2014 ReLit Award. Leanne performs at arts and literary festivals across Canada and Turtle Island, and has shared the stage with Jason Collett, Ron Sexmith, Sarah Harmer, Shad, AroarA, Lynn Crosbie and many others.

Full schedule – http://dawsonprintfestival.com/schedule