Events

Sacred Arts in Asian & First Nations Communities

The Asian Studies Program and Department of Indigenous Studies would like to invite you to our event, Sacred Arts in Asian & First Nations Communities, to be held on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Fir 128. 

This event will feature dance performances, presentations by two artist-scholars visiting from Alberta and a local Squamish carver, and a screening of the documentary Carving the Divine: Buddhist Sculptors of Japan followed by a hybrid discussion with the director. There will be ample time for discussion and Q&A with all of our presenters. Refreshments and dinner will also be provided for all attendees.

2:00 – 2:30 pm – Welcomes and opening prayer by Elder-in-Residence Lekeyten

2:30 – 4:45 pm – Dance performances, presentations, and Q&A with our visiting scholar-artists:

• Soni Dasmohapatra is a trained Kathak dancer and choreographer of Indian folk dance traditions, as well as a PhD candidate in Social Sciences at Royal Roads University.
• Danni Daysky Okemaw dances in Old Style Jingle Dress and Woodland Strap Dress, grounding her movement in Anishinaabe teachings, language, and cultural responsibility. She is in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies.

5:00 – 5:45 pm – Presentation & Q&A with Aaron Nelson-Moody, Squamish carver working in the Coast Salish tradition. His Sḵwx̱wú7mesh name, Tawx’sin Yexwulla, translates to "Splashing Eagle," though most know him as "Splash." He teaches Indigenous woodworking at Langara College and metalworking at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

5:45 – 6:30 pm – Dinner

6:30 – 8:10 pm – Screening of Carving the Divine: Buddhist Sculptors of Japan

8:20 – 9:00 pm – Panel discussion and Q&A with filmmaker, Yujiro Seki & Aaron Nelson-Moody"