Ocean's Ts'msyen name is Ama G̱oodm La̱xsüülda. She is from Kitsumkalum and she has dedicated the last 7 years to learning and teaching  Ts’msyen Sm'algyax. She has found that her passion to hold Sm'algyax in her heart deepens her connection with her traditional lands, her community and herself.

Matthew Daratha is a Metis, who was born in Saskatchewan and has been drawing and creating since 1992. He moved to Terrace where he now resides. Matthew is a graduate of the Freda Diesing school of Northwest coast art. Since graduating he has slowly been establishing himself as an artist and enjoys learning and creating. His passion for art is something he thrives to breathe through as many creations as possible, including creating a life worth remembering. He assisted as a set decorator on the movie “Monkey Beach” and in the past he has curated art shows and is currently working at the local gallery where he gets to talk, see, and breathe art all day. Matthew is a painter, inker, drawer, carver, and cartoonist. 

As a co-founder and performer with the world-touring performance troop, Le Patin Libre, Dilley has been involved in over 30 international tours and 2000 shows. Together, they have organized over 500 participative cultural and educational events and recently launched a participative ice rink installation with Tohu in Montreal.

While many of Le Patin Libre’s performances are self-produced, they primarily tour the professional dance presenter circuit and have performed for the National Arts Centre, Dance Umbrella UK, Theatre de la Ville Paris, and the Biennale di Venezia.

Dilley is a co-founder of the Outdoor Artist Collective, an NPO highlighting the power of artists as important ambassadors of the socio-ecological transition. He is also an avid festival worker and volunteer, participating in a variety of roles with international and local festivals, including Berlin Lacht, Edinburgh Fringe, Kispiox Valley Music Festival, and FarmFest

Anne Isabelle Leonard is a Montreal-based interdisciplinary artist and facilitator known for her work at the intersection of visual arts, social art and environmental advocacy. Her interdisciplinary artistic practice encompasses performance, video, drawing, painting, sculpture and installation, as well as community engagement, curating and arts administration. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Concordia University (2015), as well as a number of parallel trainings that articulate her interdisciplinarity.

In addition to her artistic practice, Leonard has led the Montreal free dance community Danser Dans l'Noir since 2017 and is the co-founder of the Outdoor Artist Collective, an NPO highlighting the power of artists as important ambassadors of the socio-ecological transition.

This year, Sima Festival adorns the multiple monsters imagined and drawn by local Terrace artist Jesse McCloskey! These little creatures represent the many moods, activities, that can be lived by people during winter.

More to come soon!