Our Mandate
Our mandate is to ensure that Indigenous artists within the city of Regina and surrounding areas are consistently provided with the space and environment to develop their self-determined artistic practices through critical exchange with their peers and audiences. This includes regular programming such as our yearly Storytellers Festival, annual residencies, workshops, performances, and exhibitions.
Our Festival
Central to our programming is The Sâkêwêwak Annual Storytellers Festival, a community based, multidisciplinary arts showcase featuring Indigenous artists. During this annual event, many Indigenous artists are invited to participate. It is an opportunity for artists to share their many different forms of art with the Regina community.
Our Story & History
The Regina Indigenous arts community first organized in 1991 as Ironbow, which later incorporated as Circle Vision Arts Corporation, an Indigenous arts service organization provincial in scope.
In 1993, with the assistance of Circle Vision, the Regina region organized under the name Sâkêwêwak, a Saulteaux word meaning “they are emerging” or “they are coming into view”.
During the collective’s formative period, the name was chosen to reflect the community’s vision for an organization that would support the emergence of new challenges identifying current and historical reference points and exploring contemporary artistic concerns.
During Sâkêwêwak’s early stages, programming focused on professional development. Later, as new partnerships were established, regular programming, including a variety of presentation activities, was introduced into the organizational mandate.
Incorporated in 1996, Sâkêwêwak First Nations Artists’ Collective has been supporting Indigenous artists in the Regina area for over two decades. All artists need a community of support and peer engagement in order to succeed. Sâkêwêwak provides this support, giving artists a chance to create, grow, and reach audiences.
Founders of Sâkêwêwak
- Âhasiw Maskêgon-iskwêw (1958–2006)
- Edward Poitras
- Robin Brass
- Reona Brass
- Sherry Farrell Racette