ELORA — OMBIIGIZI is Riverfest Elora and the Elora Centre for the Arts’ (ECFTA) 2024 Creative Roots Artist of the Year.
The award, presented annually to a Riverfest performer, recognizes “artists who have built strong creative roots in their community — by inspiring, nurturing or mentoring fellow artists, supporting creative community-based initiatives, and blazing a creative trail for the next generation of artists to follow,” officials state.
It’s a nod to the creative roots of Riverfest, which began in 2009 as a one-night ECFTA fundraiser.
OMBIIGIZI (pronounced om-BEE-ga-ZAY) — meaning “this is noisy” — is the project of Canadian duo Adam Sturgeon (Status/Non-Status) and Daniel Monkman (Zoon), Anishnaabe artists who explore their cultural histories through sound.
Their JUNO-nominated and Polaris Prize–short-listed debut album, Sewn Back Together, was produced in part by Broken Social Scene’s Kevin Drew at the Tragically Hip’s Bathouse Recording Studio. Their follow-up album will be released later this year.
“Individually and together as OMBIIGIZI, Monkman and Sturgeon exemplify dedication to community building through creativity, their programming initiatives and community stewardship,” officials state.
Sturgeon is the founder of Rezonance Printing, a screen-printing shop in London, Ontario, that provides Indigenous youth with paid internships that bridge the gap between culture, art and entrepreneurship.
Monkman, who grew up near Winnipeg, has spoken openly about his journey of overcoming addiction and trauma, and has worked with organizations such as TakingITGlobal and Connected North to serve as a role model for Indigenous youth in remote communities in Nunavut.
Together, Sturgeon and Monkman use music and storytelling to amplify personal narratives and cultural histories.
In the words of, Anishinaabe journalist and author Waubgeshig Rice “[Sturgeon and Monkman] have come together in the spirit of making noise in a good way for our people. They have documented this moment in time while paying homage to the ancestors who kept our language and stories alive. There is embedded in it a deep respect and love for Anishinaabe sounds and voices.
“They proudly tell family and community stories, and they exquisitely conjure a hopeful future that will result from our current collective efforts to share our realities with each other and the world.”
“OMBIIGIZI is truly deserving recipients of the Creative Roots Artist of the Year award,” said ECFTA executive director Lianne Carter.
“While they’ve garnered national and international attention for their music, they still find time to give back to their communities by supporting young people and nurturing the next generation of artists.”
“I have been fortunate to have seen OMBIGIIZI develop as a musical project and as people since the project began,” said Riverfest executive director David Lander.
“Their dedication to their communities and each other continues to astound me. It’s an absolute honour to have them play this year’s festival, and I can’t think of an artist more deserving of the Creative Roots Artist of the Year award than them.”
OMBIIGIZI was set to perform at Riverfest Elora’s Koop Tent stage on Aug. 17, but performed at the afterparty at the Elora Brewing Company that night instead, due to torrential rain.
