Over the past two years Zakide has sprung up as an ad-hoc group operating through small projects and research collaborations locally in and around Nipissing First Nations. I have played my role in this groups development by working through the White Water Gallery as they searched for their own organizational role in the Aboriginal Art sphere.

ZAKIDE: We have adopted the Ojibwe word “Zakide” in respect for the Aboriginal territory that we currently inhabit (Nipissing First Nations) but also as a way of celebrating excitement towards the events that we are planning. This collective / group has been created to explore Aboriginal programming free of WWG as it may become the first Aboriginal specific Artist-Run Centre to exist in Ontario as it grows and becomes more established. Currently we are being realistic about our path, which is why we have adopted the all-encompassing mandate: “To advance the public’s appreciation of contemporary Aboriginal art by producing public art exhibitions and presentations, and by providing a forum for qualified Aboriginal artists to exhibit, present, or perform their artistic works through participation in such events.”

Check them out: www.zakide.com