Vance Banzo is an award-winning actor and comedian based in Toronto. His sketch troupe, Tallboyz II Men, was a featured part of the OFF-Just For Laughs Festival. An alumnus of the Humber School of Comedy, he can be seen recently on The Beaverton. Banzo is a band member of Fishing Lake First Nation, Saskatchewan. Indian Horse (2017) is his feature film debut.

Digging Roots is a Canadian musical group, consisting of husband and wife duo Raven Kanetakta and ShoShona Kish, whose musical style blends folk-rock, pop, blues and hip hop influences. They won the Juno Award for Aboriginal Album of the Year in 2010 for their album We Are…. Kanetakta is originally from Winneway, Quebec, while Kish is from the Batchewana First Nation. Formed in 2004, the duo released their first album seeds in 2006. The album was a nominee for the Aboriginal Album of the Year Juno at the Juno Awards of 2007. They followed with We Are… in 2009, which featured collaborations with Tanya Tagaq, DJ Bear Witness of A Tribe Called Red and Kinnie Starr, who also produced the album. Their third album For the Light was released in 2014. They won the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Group in 2007.

Traditional knowledge keeper, and author James Whetung is the founder of Black Duck Wild Rice (BDWR) a family run community-based social enterprise for wild rice processing. James and family have been long-time advocates for wild rice and its place in developing a more local/regional diet; one that is based off of what this “place” has to offer.  BDWR provides “green” seed for other First Nation communities wishing to re-establish/ restore their traditional manoomin beds within their traditional territorial waterways. James Whetung’s wild rice revitalization sparked controversy with local cottagers who oppose his actions and inspired the play Cottagers and Indians.

Lena is from Wikwemikong Unceded Reserve and is a multidisciplinary artist, based in Toronto. She is a member of the Indigenous women’s comedy troupe, Manifest destiny’s Child. Lena opened for Buffy Sainte-Marie in 2011 at Phoenix Concert Hall before releasing her first album “I Am Woman, Kwe”. Which went on to receive a Native American Music Award, 2013 for Best Spoken Word Recording and one medal for Debut Artist of the Year. She is also an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards 2012 Triple Nominee: Best Album Cover Design (w/ Ireva Photography), Best Pop CD and Best New Artist. An actress and writer in film: Lena won the Cynthia Lickers-Sage Award for emerging talent from the ImagineNative Film + Media Festival (2006) for her film Eggs Instead. Theatre highlights include: Annie Cook in The Rez Sisters (Centre for Indigenous Theatre) at the Hart House Theatre.

Humourist, traditional storyteller and knowledge keeper, Zahgausgai zhinkaazo, Mukwa Dodemim, is an Ojibwa/Anishinabeninni and a 3rd Degree member of the Three Fires Midewiwin Society from WFN. He has made it a life passion to study the “MIikaans” Teaching which is about the whole development of the human before, during and after life. His past work experience includes work as the Elder/Healer at the Mental Health Centre in Penetanguishene and Fenbrook Medium Institution near Gravenhurst, Ontario He has been a part time lecturer at Georgian College in Barrie. John travels internationally and is a well-respected teacher and Elder in the Anishinabe Nation.