Nuit Blanche 2023 – Rooted in Change – Sept. 23, 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Centering Indigenous connection to land and community, Rooted in Change highlights perspectives and experiences of

Indigeneity, challenging visitors’ stewardship and care for our environment.

Location: Artscape Weston Common 34 John St, (York) Toronto, ON M9N 1J3

The Project

“Rooted in Change” is a multimedia exhibit including video, sculpture and modular pieces made with recycled materials sourced from the Humber River and local groups. The installation will incorporate traditional Indigenous designs and symbols, reflecting themes of growth, change, and unity, drawing on the symbolism of roots and branches to represent the connections between people, communities, and environment. Performances by local performers will complement the installation, adding a dynamic element to the event. Through this combination of art and entertainment, “Rooted in Change” aims to create a powerful and unforgettable experience for attendees. “Rooted in Change” brings the message of environmental and social justice to a wide audience while centring the voices of local Indigenous communities particularly as the York South-Weston area and, more specifically, Indigenous land that is being impacted by ongoing local development. By incorporating interactive elements and public engagement, the installation will serve as a catalyst for conversation and action, fostering greater awareness and engagement on the issues it raises. Ultimately, “Rooted in Change” offers meaningful and impactful contribution to the public discourse on environmental and social justice with a call to action for greater care and concern in our rapidly changing world.

The Artist

• Star Nahwegahbo, Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, Canada

Star Nahwegahbo is Anishinaabe, Scottish, and English from Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, Ontario, Robinson Huron Treaty, currently living in Toronto. Star is a mother, interdisciplinary artist, former social service worker of 12 years, grassroots community organizer, entrepreneur, and expressive arts facilitator. She combines her passion for social change and art into her art practice. Star acknowledges that her work is guided and co-created with ancestral and land-based intelligence.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to Artscape Weston Common, Star Nahwegahbo, Mount Dennis eco-Neighbourhoods Initiative and more.