Weesageechak Begins to Dance 38
Annual Development Festival of Indigenous Work
November 21- November 30, 2025. Aki Studio
Native Earth Performing Arts is excited to announce the 38th edition of Weesageechak Begins to Dance will take place November 21 - November 30, 2025 at Aki Studio in Toronto. Weesageechak Begins to Dance is an annual festival showcasing new works and works-in-development by Indigenous creators from across Turtle Island and beyond.Each night of the festival will feature a double bill with presentations from two (or three!) Weesageechak creators. The festival theme for the 38th Weesageechak Begins to Dance is Complexities and Curiosities, weaving stories, conversations, workshops, and more around a fulsome gathering of creativity and inspiration.We invite you to join us in this continued celebration of Indigenous theatre, dance, and multidisciplinary works!
Weesageechak Begins to Dance 38 Projects are:
Presentations
• Squeaky by Tara Beagan (Ntlaka’pamux)
• Children of the Bear by Todd Houseman (Nehiyaw)
• Don’t Bring Him Back by Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe (Tla'amin First Nation)
• Northern Indigenous Play Readings presented by Gwaandak Theatre
• How Bono Saved my Life (Three Times) by Sonya Ballantyne (Swampy Cree)
• mi historia que no es única by Jessica Esmeralda Zepeda (Kuskatan)
• The Curse of Stolen Seeds by Jillian Morris (Kanien’kehaka and a band member of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory)
• Conditions to Strike by Montana Summers (Oneida Nation of the Thames)
• ʔa·kinq̓uku by Samantha Sutherland (Ktunaxa)
Workshop Stream in association with Factory Theatre
• Tiger Lily by Frances Koncan (Anishinaabe from Couchiching First Nation)
• Bone Pickers by Bailey Bornyk (Michif)
Learn about other free, public Ancillary Programming here
The “Voices of Aki” panel has unfortunately been CANCELLED.
Presentations with increased access measures will be noted within the Festival Schedule. All Weesageechak Begins to Dance 38 presentations will have available “Held Spaces.” Held Spaces are calm settings hosted by HELD Agency where patrons can decompress. Each space has a designated “Active Listener” present, who uses a Peer-Based approach to support patrons through discussing, distracting, and/or de-escalating – whatever patrons choose and need in the moment.
Click here for our Access Guides.
Click here to access our Digital Program.
Festival Schedule
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7:30 | Aki Studio
Opening Welcome & Ceremony
Children of the Bear by Todd Houseman
Squeaky by Tara Beagan$15
Followed by an opening-night reception.
Click here for more details.
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7:30 PM | Aki Studio
Don’t Bring Him Back by Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-Monroe
Squeaky by Tara Beagan
$15
Followed by:
Conversation: Breaking Molds
W38 Creators connect and chat about navigating storytelling from a multidisciplinary lens and "breaking molds" in creative processes, inspired by the wide array of artistic backgrounds of our W38 artists.
Featuring Panelists:
Tara Beagan, Todd Houseman, and Cameron sinkʷə Fraser-MonroeClick here for more details.
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2:00PM | Aki Studio
Children of the Bear by Todd HousemanNorthern Indigenous Play Readings presented by Gwaandak Theatre
Featuring:
The Spirit of the Valley by Frank Henry Kaash Katasse$15
Click here for more details.
-
7:30 PM | Aki Studio
mi historia que no es única by Jessica Esmeralda Zepeda
How Bono Saved my Life (Three Times) by Sonya Ballantyne
Northern Indigenous Play Readings presented by Gwaandak Theatre
Featuring:
Constellation by Tyra Ashauntie
$15Click here for more details.
-
7:30 PM | Aki Studio
The Curse of Stolen Seeds by Jillian Morris
How Bono Saved my Life (Three Times) by Sonya Ballantyne
$15
Followed by:
Conversation: Breaking Molds
W38 Creators connect and chat about navigating storytelling from a multidisciplinary lens and "breaking molds" in creative processes, inspired by the wide array of artistic backgrounds of our W38 artists.
Featuring Panelists:
Sonya Ballantyne, Jillian Morris, Montana Summers, and Jessica Esmeralda Zepeda.
Click here for more details. -
7:30 PM | Aki Studio
mi historia que no es única by Jessica Esmeralda Zepeda
Conditions to Strike by Montana Summersʔa·kinq̓uku by Samantha Sutherland
$15
Click here for more details. -
11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Daniels Spectrum Lobby
Craft & Chill, facilitated by Labour in the Arts
With Guest Facilitator: Bailey Bornyk
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM | Daniels Spectrum Lobby
Three Sisters Indigenous Pop Up Market
7:30 PM | Aki Studio
Music + Comedy Night
Hosted by: Isabel Zaw-Tun
Performers: Yolanda Bonnell, Cale Crowe, Evan Redsky, Warren Mason
$15
Click here for more details. -
11:30 AM - 12:30 PM | Minogitoon Workspace (Studio 1 - Giizis Studio)
Voices of Aki Panel
Moderated by Joelle Peters
Panelists: Kole Durnford, Ange Loft, and Cas Ward
This EVENT has unfortunately been CANCELLED.
2:00 PM | Aki Studio
The Curse of Stolen Seeds by Jillian MorrisConditions to Strike by Montana Summers
ʔa·kinq̓uku by Samantha Sutherland
$15
All the presentations for Sun, Nov 30 will be ASL interpreted.
Click here for more details. -
From October 16-26, 2025, Bailey Bornyk (Michif) and Frances Koncan (Anishinaabe from Couchichin First Nation), Creators from Weesageechak Begins to Dance 38, will develop their works with mentor Mel Hague as part of the Second iteration of the Weesageechak Begins to Dance Workshop Stream, presented by Native Earth Performing Arts in association with Factory Theatre.
Click here for more details.
W38 Festival Team
Festival Producer
Yago Mesquita
Associate Producer
Janis Mayers
Festival Stage Managers
May Nemat Allah
Dylan Tate-Howarth
Alysse Szatkowski
Festival Head Technician
Ryan Davy
Festival Lighting Designer
Aidan Jackson-Hoag
Festival Production Manager/ Technical Director
Julia Howman
Assistant Technical Director
Adam Bromley
Festival Marketing Assistant
Trinity Lloyd
Accessibility Consultant
The Disability Collective
Active Listeners
HELD Agency