A Warrior’s Red Road

The Good—Hearted Warriors/Akicita Cante Waste are a group of men who have been provided with the responsibility of land and resources owned by the Brandon Friendship Centre at the East Site venue. They have sovereignty over ceremonial buildings, collection of resources and overall protection and caretaking of the space.

With a spiritual advisor providing teachings on culture and ceremony, members of the group alternate between teaching and learning to share their knowledge about activities such as hunting, fishing, and trapping.

This exhibition is the result of a year-long research partnership that followed the men from the Good-Hearted Warriors through the process of drum-making. It gives evidence that many of the Good-Hearted Warriors’ activities directly affect the caretaking and protection of the land, and, as revealed in the themes represented through this photovoice project, the impact of the group extends much further. The hope is that by witnessing the project, the public, policymakers and funders will find a newfound respect and admiration for Indigenous men’s cultural programming and see the importance of supporting this type of work.

The research team within this project includes Dr. Candice Waddell-Henowitch, Dr. Rachel Herron, Dr. Jonathan Allan and research assistant Stephanie Spence from Brandon University with Jason Gobeil from Dakota Ojibway Child and Family Services, Frank Tacan from Brandon Friendship Centre, and Marti Ford from Manitoba Inuit Association.

Opening Reception: September 6, 7- 10:00 pm
Opening Prayers: 7:00 pm
Drumming Performance and Artist Talk: 7:30 pm