Kontiwennahawi Perform at Toronto

By: Arisawe

Kontiwennahawi, also known as the Ahkwesahsne Women Singers, set out on the road last Thursday, July 3rd, to make their way to Toronto for an outdoor concert. It was a rainy drive, but by the time the group arrived, the weather turned in their favor as they were met with sunny skies and a cool breeze off the lake.

Their performance marked the first in a series of 15 weeks of free outdoor concerts, being held at the Harbour Front in Toronto, Ontario. The event is held in the Music Garden, a botanical landscape that lends the beauty of various types of shrubs, trees and flowers, and a tiered sitting area that is carved into the landscape for the audience. If you're in the Toronto area and are interested in taking in one of these concerts, they're held from July to September, Thursday evenings from 7-8 or Sundays, from 4-5.

The women participated at this event four years ago, at the request of Barbara Croall who is from the Odawa Nation, and once again, she invited the women to sing. Barbara is a composer who performs her music all over the world. She opened the event as she brought bird songs to life as she played her traditional cedar flute. She has the art of combining traditional flute with classical style of music. And, while music is a large part of her life, she's also a teacher in a public school and she shares her teachings of survival skills to youth throughout the summer.

After Barbara performed, Kontiwennahawi held the attention of the audience with an introduction and history of the group, before the song sharing began. It was explained that we formed as a Singing Society that has the responsibility of assisting those who are in need of funds to assist with medical travel, loss due to house fires, and support for the Freedom School among other needs. Through CD sales and paid singing engagements, the group is able to donate financially when the need arises.

Bear Fox shared her own songs, which is always appreciated by all people at events such as this. Then New Women's Dance songs, led by Bear, Iawentas and Katsitsionni were shared. To wrap up the evening event, the women sang the Alligator Dance and invited the audience to dance. Overall, it was a great evening of sharing songs, dance, and friendship in the spirit of peace.