The first event in this Michigan Indigenous Artists series was a free educational concert by Asiginaak-Negamojig (Blackbird Singers), a local Indigenous language and singing group. The group sang and Stacie Sheldon, co-founder of Ojibwe.net, provided background and teachings on Ojibwe language and culture. It also featured light refreshments from Anishnabe Meejim, an Indigenous caterer and food truck. The event was intended for the public, and over 300 people came to the show. We are grateful to Stacie, Asiginaak-Negamojig, Anishinabe Meejim, and The Ark for all of their work and energy to make this event a huge success.

These two free workshops were focused on native beadwork are by the artists of Heron Hill Designs, a Michigan-based Indigenous artist collective. The artists led students through hands-on workshops to create a medicine wheel pin with a birchbark center (if attending one session) or a pair of earrings (if attending both sessions).  Anishnabe Meejim, an Indigenous caterer and food truck, provided dinner and lunch for each workshop. Intended for a smaller group, there were over 30 people who attended between the two workshops. We are forever grateful to Joey and Daniel of Heron Hill Designs, Anishinabe Meejim, and our building host A2STEAM at Northside for all of their coordination, energy, and care to make these workshops possible.

This free family concert by Joe Reilly and his band, The Community Gardeners, featured Anishinaabe powwow dancers from Mt. Pleasant. Joe is a local musician with Italian, Irish, and Native American (Cherokee and Choctaw) heritage who was raised in Kalamazoo, Michigan and has strong ties to Ann Arbor. The family-friendly event brought together many families and community members with lunch provided by Anishnabe Meejim (as was done with all of our spring events). The food, performances, and dancing were a spectacular way to end our spring artists series. Relive the concert through the photo slideshow and/or watch the livestream of the concert from The Ark. You can skip ahead to about 8:44 in the Youtube link to start the concert.