Talking Stick and Queer Arts fests celebrate with daylong Indigiqueer events, June 18

Virago Nation, Joshua Whitehead, and more in a three-event lineup

Queer Arts Festival and Talking Stick Festival present Indigiqueer events June 18 at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre

TWO CONCURRENT FESTIVALS have joined forces to create a day of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer arts events on June 18, all in honour of National Indigenous History Month.

Taking place at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre, Queer Arts Festival and the Talking Stick Festival trilogy of LGBTQ2SIA+-friendly happenings launch at 3 pm with Love After the End: Joshua Whitehead & Friends. The literary panel features contributors to the 2020 sci-fi collection Love After the End: An Anthology of Two-Spirit and Indigiqueer Speculative Fiction, compiled by renowned author Joshua Whitehead. Participating authors include emerging Indigenous writers jaye simpson, Nathan Adler and Nazbah Tom.

A catered “cinq-à-sept” reception follows the book event, featuring DJ Kota and a book signing with the participating authors, facilitated by independent and Indigenous-owned Massy Books.

Ending the night with a bang is all-Indigenous burlesque group Virago Nation, which takes the Roundhouse stage at 7 pm with a bold and bawdy new performance exploring the many facets of Indigenous sexual rematriation. Using storytelling, comedy, pop culture, and striptease. The theme: heteronormativity is inherently colonial and queerness is a gift to be celebrated. Artists performing are Lynx Chase, Mandy Stroyer, Monday Blues, RainbowGlitz, Ruth Odare, Scarlet Delirium, Shane Sable, and Sparkle Plenty. Drag performance artist Continental Breakfast joins as a special guest.

Be sure to wander through QAF's international, gender-fluid art exhibition bumfuzzled monachopsis between shows.

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