WHRO LIVE LISTEN WATCH EDUCATE ABOUT SUPPORT US DONATE CONTACT US ENEWS myWHRO

THE AWAKENERS

Saturday, December 7th

6:00pm on
Runtime: 00:48:52
Widescreen

The Dance & The Dream

Laura meets up with Lyle and David Donald, a father and son who head up theEdmonton Metis Dancers. David is living his dream, teaching young people the traditional Metis Jig, and he's sharing his knowledge with people who have disabilities like Stacey who has Down Syndrome. Laura also launches her plan to help Esther make her dreams come true, by introducing her to a wonderful wise and caring Kokum (Grandmother), from the Artist Market, Donna Robillard.

Saturday, December 14th

6:00pm on
Runtime: 00:48:21
Widescreen

The Healing Culture

Laura contemplates the richness of her family's Indigenous heritage and culture and the ways her culture and art bring healing. She meets Raymond Gladue, an award winning dancer from the Edmonton Metis Dancers. He tells her his story of the car accident that killed his brother, also a champion dancer, and left Raymond in a wheelchair. However; because of a promise he made to his brother's memory he miraculously recovered to be a champion jigger. She also meets an energetic young woman, Sissy Thiessen Kootenayoo who suffered a severe concussion and brain injury but is now a jingle dancer, a traditional art form used for healing.

Saturday, December 21st

6:00pm on
Runtime: 00:47:48
Widescreen

The Message Is The Art

Laura meets three very different visual artists with unique messages. She discovers how Tom Baril's photographs take the viewer on a haunting journey to honour the children of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Mackenzie Brown's boldly coloured paintings and healing drumming take her audiences on a mystical tour of Indigenous culture. And Jolanta Bird uses her photography to deliver commercial messages, but in her private time she creates her own strong perspective through her lens. And finally, Laura attends a live performance by slam-poet and twin-spirited Gabe Calderon, who rocks the world with powerful spoken messages that provoke soul searching.

Saturday, December 28th

6:00pm on
Runtime: 00:47:35
Widescreen

The Hope Art Carries

Wayne Levesque and Yvette Cenerini are two people who started their lives without disabilities, but met with dramatic mishaps that resulted in disabilities that suddenly changed their worlds. Wayne had his arm cut off in an accident at a saw mill and Yvette broke her neck in a swimming accident. But now Wayne is playing guitar and singing and Yvette is quadrapelegic but is a groundbreaking visual artist. They share their experiences as people who have continued their art and have used their disabilities to add depth and dimension to their expressions of music and visual arts. These people help Laura discover some secrets about dealing with her own physical challenges.

Saturday, January 4th

6:00pm on
Runtime: 00:48:59
Widescreen

'Meegwitch, Hi Hi!'

"Meegwitch" in Ojibway means "Creator", and "hi hi" is, "thank you". In this episode Laura begins to rejoice and is thankful in how fortunate she and all artists are to have their artistic gifts. She meets JR Bjornson, a blind and anxious stand-up guy, that is also, an up-and-coming stand-up comedian! She also visits the delipitating farm of a groundbreaking visual artist, Candace Lipischak, who brings a fresh application of the saying, "one man's trash is another man's treasure". Laura also has an opportunity to visit the museum of an Indigenous hero she's always wanted to know more about, Louis Riel. The season ends with a grand musical finale with a very thankful multicultural choir!