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)

RSVP Forms for Ancillary Programming coming soon!

TICKETS
FESTIVAL PASSES

Festival Schedule

  • 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. 

  • 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.

    Panelists TBA

  • 2:00PM | Aki Studio
    Children of the Bear by Todd Houseman

    Northern Indigenous Play Readings presented by Gwaandak Theatre

    Featuring:
    The Spirit of the Valley by Frank Henry Kaash Katasse
    Constellation by Tyra Ashauntie

    $15 

  • 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 byGwaandak Theatre
    Featuring:
    The Spirit of the Valley     by Frank Henry Kaash Katasse
    Constellation by Tyra Ashauntie
    $15 

  • 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.

    Panelists TBA

  • 7:30 PM | Aki Studio
    Presentation of works by Animikiig Creators: 
    Conditions to Strike by Montana Summers
    mi historia que no es única by Jessica Zepeda 

    $15 

  • 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM | 3rd Floor Daniels Spectrum
    Craft & Chill, facilitated by Labour in the Arts

    TIME TBA
    Mini Three Sisters Indigenous Popup Market

    7:30 PM | Aki Studio
    Comedy + Music Night
    Line-Up TBA
    $15 

  • 2:00 PM | Studio 130
    Voices of Aki Panel/Discussion
    Moderated by Joelle Peters

    2:30 PM | Aki Studio
    The Curse of Stolen Seeds by Jillian Morris

    Conditions to Strike by Montana Summers
    ʔa·kinq̓uku by Samantha Sutherland
    $15 

  • 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 FestivalWorkshop Stream, presented by Native Earth Performing Arts in association with Factory Theatre.

W38 Festival Team

Festival Producer
Yago Mesquita 

Assistant 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