Jessica Mak
Chinese-Canadian freelance dance and textile artist
What the Nominator shared: A versatile artist that creates at the intersection of movement and textile work and enjoys exploring new discoveries.
In their own words: I will always push for visibility and inclusivity in creative spaces, because work being presented by individuals of different cultures and races hold power and allows for others to see us and our experiences through our personal interpretations.
Photo by Kendra EpikCanAsian Dance is situated in Tkaronto, a Mohawk word meaning “the place in the water where the trees are standing.” It is the traditional territory of many nations, including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishinaabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee, and the Wendat peoples, and it continues to be the home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples.
This land is under the Dish with One Spoon covenant, an agreement between the Anishinaabeg and the Haudenosaunee Confederacy. This land is a dish to be shared and cared for and we all share one spoon; the spoon is to be used to take only what is needed and to leave enough for others, thus ensuring a viable and abundant future. We recognize the enduring resilience of Indigenous peoples and we acknowledge that we are accountable to these relationships and these agreements.
We carry these values of responsibility in sharing and caring in abundance with consideration of not only ourselves but of our communities that we share together.
Land Acknowledgement
We are grateful to the following funding partners for their ongoing support
