Kiyanaan Cabaret

Issa Kixen is an Anishinaabe Two Spirit comedian/journalist/Producer who is a band member of Couchiching First Nation, Ontario. They have travelled across Canada and the USA as a Comedian and improviser. They use comedy as a tool in dealing with racism, transphobia and ableism. They are the Co-founder/producer of WOKE Comedy Hour, Associate producer at CBC Radio Manitoba, and was a contributor on APTN’s The Laughing Drum and they are the executive producter for Minogondaagan: the good voice podcast.

Sonya Ballantyne is a filmmaker and writer originally from Misipawistik Cree Nation in Northern
Manitoba. Her work focuses on Indigenous women and girls in non-traditional film genres such
as horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. Sonya is a vocal advocate for positive media representation for
Indigenous women and girls and has spoken on the topic at We Day Manitoba in 2017, San
Diego Comic Con in 2018 and New York Comic Con in 2019. Her first film "Crash Site" has
played at various festivals around the world and was recently translated into French. Her
second film "Nosisim" is a short documentary focusing on her relationship with her grandmother
Virginia and a drawing done of her by famed Anishinaabe artist Daphne Odjig. Her fantasy short
film "Eagle Girl" had its world premiere at the Vancouver International Film Festival in October
2019 and follows a young Indigenous girl trying to find her power in order to save her sick
Grandma. The documentary “The Death Tour” was her feature directorial debut. It premiered at
the Slamdance Festival in January 2024 and was executive produced by Hall of Fame
professional wrestler Chris Jericho.
Sonya is also a proficient screenwriter, having written for such shows as CTV Comedy’s Acting
Good, Treehouse TV’s Builder Brothers Dream Factory, and the game The Walking Dead: The
Last MILE. She has also written content for Sesame Street and the First Nations Child and
Family Caring Society.
Sonya is a published author with graphic novels including LIttle by Little You Can Change the
World, Between the Pipes, and the forthcoming The Unbeatable Sonya Ballantyne, a graphic
novel memoir.
Sonya also works as a sensitivity consultant for video games, which has included God of War
Ragnarok..

Izzeddin Hawamda-عزالدين حوامده was born and raised in a rural village just outside of Nablus in the West Bank, Palestine. He currently serves as the Anti-Racist Education Professional Learning Initiative Coordinator with Louis Riel, River East Transcona, and Winnipeg School Divisions. Izzeddin has recently completed his PhD in Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Manitoba. As a co-founder of (Bridge), he has been actively speaking about the power of dialogue and the importance of sharing, listening, and respecting diverse perspectives and narratives. Izzeddin is dedicated to creating opportunities for Indigenous communities and newcomer communities to share spaces and stories, fostering connections and breaking down barriers. Additionally, he is a member of the CRRIC board and the Countering Radicalization to Violence in Manitoba Schools, and he has been selected to join the inaugural CBC Manitoba Community Advisory Board. Izzeddin is currently teaching Indigenous Languages: Culture, Rights and conflict at the Global College-University of Winnipeg. Izzeddin believes in the transformative power of storytelling, which opens spaces for humanization and building empathy.

Aaron McKay is Anishinaabe from Rolling River First Nation and Swan Lake First Nation. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education from Brandon University. He has worked in secondary and post-secondary education as an educator and advisor. He is also the founder of Giiwe, and Anishinaabe owned and operated tourism, retail and consulting business. In 2024, Aaron also created Riding Mountain Ventures Inc., a federal non-profit dedicated to supporting Indigenous entrepreneurs and businesses by connecting them with established businesses. With a passion for bringing communities together, Aaron uses his voice and experiences to take meaningful action and create change.

Jo(She/Her)(Anishinaabe) is a Mom, Auntie, oshkaabe, educator, short film creator, and playwright. She created Winn Nipi, an audio piece for PTE’s Winnipeg Stories Safe at Home Manitoba Project. Her play Neechie-itas won the Native American New Play contest and was produced by the Oklahoma Indigenous Theatre Company. The digital production has been screened across the United Kingdom, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States. She adapted Neechie-itas for the 2023 Winnipeg Fringe Festival and “Neechies” received 5 stars. Other works include OUR HOME and native land, Songide’ewin (Sarasvati Productions), Thunderbird: All good things must begin (Climate Change Theatre Action) and Land Claim.

Simon Miron is a two spirited, francophone Métis, multi-disciplinary artist, from Treaty One Territory. Ancestral families include: Ladéroute, Pontbriand & Sansregret. They are interested in making weird art that encourages growth and challenges the boundaries of their own theatre practice. They hold a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and also studied in Edmonton, Toronto and The Stratford Festival. They are a founding member of the Village Conservatory for Music Theatre, a Winnipeg based performing arts education program. www.villageconservatory.com Directing credits include: The Piano Teacher (RMTC), Li Keur, Riel’s Heart of the North (Manitoba Opera), The (Post) Mistress (RMTC), Pippin (WST/ViC), American Idiot (WST). Performing credits include: Little Women (RMTC), Merrily We Roll Along (DryCold), None of This is Happening (TPM), Orlando (RMTC), The Winter’s Tale (SIR/TCM), House on Pooh Corner (MTYP), Little Shop of Horrors (RainbowStage), South Pacific (WSO), James and the Giant Peach (MTYP), Butcher (TCM), Les Misérables (RainbowStage), Blithe Spirit (Echo Theatre), The Producers (RainbowStage), Sunday in the Park with George (Sondheimfest).

Victoria Perrie is a Métis-Cree artist and lawyer at Perrie Law with practices in Nunavut and Manitoba. She has a Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor degrees, built from a base of traditional teachings from Elders across Turtle Island. She is presently working towards a master’s degree in criminal law and procedure at Osgoode Hall. Aside from litigation, she's made her mark in international and Canadian legal publications, tackling issues from gender-based violence to Indigenous statelessness. Victoria is a Director at the Nunavut Law Foundation, the Manitoba Association of Playwrights, and is co-Secretary for the Indigenous Bar Association. Victoria gives back to her communities by delivering pro-bono legal education in remote and isolated communities, promoting the re-invigoration of traditional forms of justice, and performing in the Lawyer’s Play fundraiser musicals. Victoria's diverse experiences—ranging from international legal consultation to community-based art and legal education—underscore her dedication to driving change. Her poetry reflects a deep commitment to access to justice and the power of community.

United Thunder Square Dancers were formed in 2014, and are a high energy Indigenous dance group whose purpose is to help share the culture and traditions of jigging and square dancing.  Together the dancers incorporate modern-day variations of steps and routines with traditional Red River Jigging and square dancing that’s been done in the First Nation and Metis communities for many years. 

United Thunder group members originate from rural Manitoba communities but are currently based out of Winnipeg. Some of our recent performances include events such as Back to Batoche Days, Dauphin’s Countryfest, Norway House Treaty and York Boat Days, Sakihiwe Festival, and Manito Ahbee Festival.

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Please check out the group performances on our social media platforms:

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UnitedThunder

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TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@unitedthunder17 

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YouTube:

https://youtu.be/U8Kq-P8SRNs?si=Sp_E4GQ2QoFksq1F - Back to Batoche 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaY9S94WitA - Dakota Nation Winterfest 2024

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYxNC-I3ai8 – Dauphin’s Countryfest 2024

She goes by many names. Olivia Limeheart Sky, Olivia La Vida Loca, Olivia Garden, but you may simply call her a badass. Her name evokes many feelings Excitement! Shock! Horror! Madness! No one can encapsulate her aura but she was best described by one man:

"I went to a drag show tonight. At a club. It's been maybe 2 years. Olivia. Fun. Smart. Creative. And a perfect archetypal structure. Persona. Shadow. Anima. Self. In that order. Perfect." - Dr. Jordan B. Peterson