ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta
In the Anishinabe world-view, wealth is measured not by how much we have, but by how much we have to share. The practice of holding a ‘Giveaway’ is a central part of Anishinabe gatherings, Pow Wows, and ceremonies. Art, songs, stories, dance, feast foods and gifts (that are prepared often months or even years in advance) are shared with all in attendance.
Inspired by this simple yet central practice, The Giveaway is a three phase project focused on preparing gifts for the community. The project begins with introspection and creation, moving to production and coming full circle to presentation. The first phase is a turning inward to our center fire as artists and collaborators to reflect and renew our artistic practice and the conception of new works. The second phase will be the actualizing of these new works as a song cycle recording and the creation of visual concepts for presentation. The third phase will be the development of a multi-arts offering to our larger community in celebration and in honour of the Giveaway tradition. It is the intersection of art, ceremony, community and culture. With respect for this world view and this traditional practice we will create, reflect and prepare to host our own ‘give away’ to share with the larger community.
When that emergence happens The Giveaway will be an opportunity for us as artists and for our communities to engage with one another through art and celebration within an Indigenous framework. It is a community act of sharing, and reclamation of space.
Digging Roots will share their compositions, accompanied by traditional/contemporary dancers, drummers and singers with an immersive installation and multimedia projections. Community chefs will prepare a feast of traditional foods. This is the traditional way we gather, nourishing our hearts, bodies, minds, and spirit together. We call this ‘four dimensional’ referring to the wholeness of the medicine wheel teachings.
Open PDF below to see full pitch deck and contact details:
THE GIVEAWAY Pitch for Luminato.pdf
Winner of the 2023 Canadian Juno Award for Contemporary Indigenous Group of the Year
Digging Roots breathe life into songs from their land, Turtle Island, to raise their voices in solidarity witha global chorus of Indigenous artists, activists and change-makers. For over a decade, two-time JUNO Award winners Digging Roots have traveled the world with a joyful message of resistance, celebrating Anishinaabe and Onkwehón:we traditions of round dance and interconnectedness. As Roots Music Canada says, the band is "...badass, empowering and hopeful all at the same time." Digging Roots takes you on a journey through tall grass, sweet waters and unconditional love in a joyous and powerful celebration on their 4th album Zhawenim (2022). Led by the electrifying current of husband-and-wife team, ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta, the 6-piece band responds to a majestic and spiritual call from ShoShona’s earthy vocals and Raven’s exhilarating guitar mastery through a fusion of blues, soul and rock n’roll. For long time fans or new audiences, their constantly evolving live show opens a space, wherever they may be in the world, for healing, compassion, unconditional love and Baamaadziwin (the good life). Constantly interweaving between drum culture and guitar dialects, Raven and ShoShona were raised in cultural families that have continued to resist oppression and colonialism.
More than a band, Digging Roots have taken their place at the frontline of the fight for equity and representation in the arts, with involvement in industry advocacy and organization to empower arts communities worldwide. ShoShona is the founder of the International Indigenous Music Summit and the music label Ishkōdé Records. Raven, who studied at Berklee College of Music, "grew up in a small Anishinabe Rez called Winneway in north-western Quebec. It’s formally called Long Point First Nation. It’s where my grandfather and father taught me to hunt, trap and fish. I also spent my summers on my mother’s Mohawk Rez of Kahnàwa:ke." ShoShona's "family is from Batchewana and a part of the Three Fires Midewiwin Lodge.
Website:DIGGING ROOTS (diggingrootsmusic.com)
Career Highlights
2023 Won JUNO Award for “Contemporary Group or Artist of the Year”