Results tagged “firstnations”

Agokwe sounds like a good idea on paper. The Kent Monkman-esque promo pics featuring the play's writer/performer, Waatwaate Fobister, glammed up like a cross between "Half Breed"-era Cher and St. Sebastian (Seb's basically Gay Jesus, for those who aren't in the club) are certainly eye-catching, if a tad cheesy, and seem to suggest a camp and tongue-in-cheek exploration of two-spirited sexuality. And camp we certainly get. Fobister, who plays all the characters in his "gay love on the rez" tragedy, flits about the stage as a beyond-swishy Nanabush (an Ojibwe trickster spirit), sometimes telling the story of star-crossed Jakey and Mikey, Agokwe's protagonists, sometimes delivering speeches about how queer-tolerant First Nations societies used to be, and sometimes asking people in the audience to touch his asshole. But rather than a thoughtful or eye-opening look at homophobia in First Nations communities, Agokwe never really rises above the level of After-School Special.

Transformation AGO will soon be entering the final stages of its expansion project, estimated to finish sometime in mid-2008. But before the AGO closes its doors in order to begin reinstalling over 5,000 pieces of art into 110 galleries, they will be offering free admission to the public for its closing weekend this October 6 and 7.

Ontario Conservative leader John "The Tory" Tory has promised that if elected a Conservative government would allocate $800 million to public transit in the province. Tory also confessed that it has been a long-time dream of his to one day ride on a streetcar, but that his chauffeur wasn't yet licensed to drive one.

If you’re feeling hungry and are looking for something a little less bland than your average, it might be worth dropping by the Tenth Annual World Spicy Food Festival at Harbourfront. The Festival promises three solid days of spicy goodness, with heat levels ranging from slightly piquant to eye-popping, face-melting, sinus-clearing insanity.

Yesterday the AGO revealed its latest summer exhibition, Treasures of the Tsimshian from the Dundas Collection—a first for the public eye in more than a century.

At random intervals, two Torontoist staffers square off to debate an issue that's important to our city. We invite our readers to join the debate in the comments section following the post.

Today is the First Nations National Day of Action. According to organizers The Assembly of First Nations (AFN), the event is a chance for all Canadians to call for "immediate action to improve [aboriginal peoples'] quality of life." Basically, bands from across the country are demanding the government work with First Nations to gain control of the programs, services and decisions that affect their lives. At noon, there will be a peaceful demonstration supporting the National Day of Action. Then the group will march from King's College Circle to Queen's Park, where participants can to enjoy music, food (mmm...bannock), dance, and inspirational words until 5 p.m. Sounds pretty sweetgrass to us.

Toronto is apparently "about to go broke." Wait, what?

For filmgoers interested in heavier fare than Because I Said So, the 3rd annual Prison Justice Film Festival begins today at the U of T’s William Doo Auditorium and the Toronto Women’s Bookstore.

Drake, you ho, this is all your fault. The Ontario Municipal Board has approved a high-rise residential project on Queen Street West at 48 Abell Street, just steps from the Gladstone and everything hipsters cherish about Toronto's arts scene. Developers intend to build 7 condos in total with affordable housing, and the ratio of "normal people" to "artists with cool hair" will be thrown into upheaval. Unfortunately, there's not much that we or neighbourhood-preservation groups like Active 18 can do. The condo developers officially have the green light.

Canadians have always been explorers, from the First Nations peoples who crossed the Ice Age land bridge from Asia, to Jacques Cartier, to the Canadian astronauts who tag along on the Space Shuttle missions. It was in this spirit of discovery that I undertook a holiday exploration of that which makes Toronto more than just another blob of concrete, people and cockroaches – our miles and miles of indoor shopping. What follows in an account of a trip across the length and breadth of the Toronto downtown PATH system on foot.