About
Join us in celebration of First Nations House's upcoming 30th anniversary and this years Indigenous Education Week theme of Indigenous Regalia and Fashion. Hart House has opened its doors to showcase Indigenous fashion and designer talent from the Indigenous community.
The Great Hall will be turned into a runway show hosted by Canada's Drag Race season 3 contestant Chelazon Leroux, featuring collections from designers such as: Lesley Hampton, SECTION 35, IX BALAM, Ocean Kiana, Neechi By Nature, Aaniin, and more to be announced. Musical performances by Faith Desmoulin, Mr. Sauga, and Semiah Smith. DJ set and services by DJ Kimiwan and music provided by Neon Natives and DJ Yung Wunda.
This is a drug and alcohol free event, there will be no drinks served or sold on the premise.
Mainstage Designers
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Lesley Hampton
Headline Designer/UofT/UTM Alumni
Lesley Hampton (she/her) is an Anishinaabe Artist and Fashion Designer focused on mental health awareness, body positivity, and authentic representation in fashion, film, and media. She is the Creative Director of LESLEY HAMPTON, an indigenous-owned, size inclusive clothing and accessory brand based in Toronto, ON,and is also a signed curve model with BNM Model Management, and speaker on Indigenous entrepreneurship.
Lesley is a member of Temagami First Nation, located in northern Ontario, and she also identifies as a 'third culture kid' with her early life of constant relocation. Formative years spent in Canada's Arctic and Atlantic, Australia, England, Indonesia, and New Caledonia, added to her quest to establish a personal and cultural identity. She defines herself through the amalgamation of her Anishinaabe indigeneity and her early nomadic upbringing. Lesley has nurtured a passion for socio-cultural concepts, to help define her identity, and reconnect with her indigenous roots.
Lesley has been an ambassador for equality, diversity and authentic representation of both beauty standards and culture within the fashion and media industries. This advocacy coupled with her artistic passion and ability naturally took shape through what is now her fashion brand as well as her personal brand.
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Justin Jacob Louis
Creative Director and Founder of SECTION 35
Justin Jacob Louis is the Creative Director and Founder of SECTION 35. He is a member of the Samson Cree Nation and was born and raised in Nipisihkopahk (Samson) on Treaty 6 Territory. He now calls Unceded Stó:lō Territory his home. His work blends the past with the present and finds inspiration in the juxtaposition between these elements. He launched SECTION 35 in 2016 with the intention to use art and fashion to tell his peoples' stories.
Justin was a finalist for Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2022 Canadian Art and Fashion Awards ("CAFA") in Toronto. His work has seen features in numerous publications from Vogue to Complex and was included at "In America: A Lexicon of Fashion" at the Metropolitan Museum of New York in 2022.
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IX BALAM
IX BALAM Marta Orellana is IX BALAM, a Guatemalan born child of the diaspora. As an interdisciplinary artist with a focus on fashion and photography, her indigenous roots greatly influence her work. Having lived in North, Central and South America, IX BALAM explores the duality of the universe through Mayan cosmology and contemporary societies.
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Neechi By Nature
Neechi By Nature was established in 2020, after two years of research and development Neechi By Nature launched its first collection in 2022. Neechi By Nature is focused on building its own brand of Indigenous apparel, accessories, footwear, art, and entertainment. Neechi By Natures vision, looks, and concepts are inspired from Indigenous design, streetwear, and high fashion. Each of their collection’s are thoughtfully designed and curated, while being produced on a limited basis to combat fast fashion, no one piece is ever the same. Neechi By Nature aims to support the artist community through it’s nonprofit initiatives which aim to create space, free and affordable services, and exhibit platform for all emerging artists.
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Aaniin
Aaniin retail inc. is Canada’s First Department Store that is 100% Indigenous owned. Chelsee Pettite founded the business in Toronto in June 2021. Aaniin houses Canadas’s most recognizable Indigenous brands and businesses in store and their online platform. Brand such as; Section 35, Cheekbone Beauty, Lesley Hampton and our fast growing house brand of apparel “aaniin”. The aaniin brand of apparel showcases Indigenous syllabics on each of the apparel items in efforts to start the conversation on Indigenous languages while creating visibility for Indigenous people all year round.
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Ocean Kiana
Ocean Kiana is an Nishinaabe woodland style artist from North Western Ontario raised by the Martiarchs of her family. Her Nishinaabe name is Waabshki Memegwans, meaning White Butterfly and she is of the Wolf Clan. On her home reserves Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Pic River First Nation) and Netmizaagamig Nishinaabeg (Pic Mobert First Nation) she grew up attending ceremonies, powwows, and being out on the land with her family.
Ocean comes with a background of digital art, painting, drawing, beading, and sewing. Her Anishinaabe territory, community, and identity has a strong influence in the art she creates consisting of viabrant colours, florals and woodland style dancers. She gives her credit to the many Anishinaabe artists who came before her, who mentored and inspired her to be where she is today.
Event MC
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Chelazon Leroux
Chelazon Leroux from Canada’s Drag Race is Layten Byhette’s stage name. Chelazon (she/he/they) is a two-Spirit Dene First Nations Multidisciplinary Artist. Chelazon’s artistic pursuits include: Drag, stand-up comedy, and social media content creation.
Chelazon uses her Indigenous identity— as a status member of Buffalo River Dene Nation (Treaty 10) and family ties to Fond Du Lac First Nation (Treaty 8) —as the foundation for her creative works. Chelazon is best known for her Auntie persona and TikTok posts. Chelazon uses her social media influence to educate and entertain audiences worldwide.
Her goal is to utilize her responsibilities as a Two-Spirit multimedia artist to bring Two-Spirit’s historical role into the modern world.
To educate and entertain audiences worldwide on the experiences, stories, and beauty of Indigenous identity.
Live Performances by
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Semiah Smith with Duo
Semiah is a Kanien'keha:ka (Mohawk) Turtle clan Toronto-based pop electro-RnB artist from Six Nations, ON. Born with a honey vocal tone conditioned through years of singing traditional songs from her Onkwehonwe background, Semiah sings with unapologetic honesty beyond her 25 years. Semiah's distinctive sound is an eclectic mix of RnB, Electronic, Hip-Hop, Indigenous Vocal Techniques, and Dreampop.
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Jordan Jamieson a.k.a. Mr. Sauga
As an emerging artist singer-songwriter, Jordan Jamieson – MR. SAUGA’s passion for music is grounded in traditional and cultural influences of the Michi Saagiig peoples. Jordan showcases his identity, activist work, and passions by infusing Indigenous culture and storytelling into his lyrics, themes, and rhythms. Unidentified exemplifies the type of energy poured into Jamieson’s upcoming album and gives a taste of his feel good, energetic vibe.
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Faith Desmoulin
Event DJ
Music Provided by
Event Partners
This event has been made possible through the partnerships of Hart House, First Nations House, University of Toronto Mississauga Indigenous Centre, Office of Indigenous Initiatives, Babaa-Ayaa Productions, Neechi By Nature, Stallion, and Content Day.
