On August 24th, Room Magazine and Massy Books are coming together to put on Indigenous Brilliance: Summer Edition, which will feature these four amazing & talented artists:

// NIIGAANI BINESI
// ELISSA KRYSTAL SKY
// JUSTIN DUCHARME
// DÉLANI VALIN

Boozhoo, Niigaani Binesi Nndiizniikaaz. Niizhtana ashi Niizh. Bishiw Dodem. Wabaseemoong boogeen. They will be forever a Rez kwe at heart even when home is three provinces (a very long walk) away. They are a student at Native Education College and are working towards becoming a mental health worker for First Nation kids & youth. In their spare time they bead, cross stitch and sew. They identify as Two-Spirit and queer.

Elissa Krystal Sky is an Anishnaabe Kwe from Shoal Lake, Ontario, Ojibway First Nation. Having lived across Canada, Elissa now makes her home in Vancouver, BC. As an intergenerational survivor of the residential school system, Elissa finds inspiration and healing through culture, lived experience and the resiliency of First Nations people. Elissa's dad was the late Richard Wagamese, writing is in her blood and the creation of written word has always been an integral part of her own personal healing journey.

Originally from a small Métis community in Manitoba, Justin Ducharme moved to Vancouver when he was 18 to further pursue his love for cinema & creative writing. With an affection for all aspects of storytelling and film making, he practices skills learned from working in fashion and film. While his heart lies in cinematic endeavours, he is also passionate about poetry and the traditional Métis dance he grew up doing. When he’s not making films, he enjoys exploring different ways to decolonize his approach to production, writing poetry and short stories, and seeing as many films he can. Justin cites filmmakers Gregg Araki, Gus Van Sant, and Andrea Arnold, among others, as his cinematic influences. Hustling Verse: An Anthology of Sex Workers Poetry edited by Ducharme and Amber Dawn, will be published by Arsenal Pulp in the fall of 2019.

Délani Valin has a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Vancouver Island University. She was recently nominated for a National Magazine Award. She was awarded The Malahat Review’s Long Poem Prize, and subTerrain’s Lush Triumphant Literary Award. Her work has appeared in The Malahat Review, subTerrain, Those Who Make Us, Soliloquies Anthology, and Portal, among others.

Hosted by Jónína Kirton and Jessica Johns.

Indigenous Brilliance is a quarterly reading series for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit women/2SQ writers to showcase their work and general badassery. It is with the utmost respect and gratitude that we organize and hold these events on the unceded and traditional territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples.

Entry is free and all ages, though please be aware that some readings contain explicit content/language which you may find unsuitable for children.
Massy Books is an accessible venue.
ASL interpreters available by request.
(please contact Jessica at jessicajohns@roommagazine.com to make requests or to ask any questions!)