A first nation artist with a world vision

“It came as an absolute surprise,” said Sandra Laronde, when asked about her nomination for an honorary degree at Trent University’s upcoming graduation ceremony June 1.

Laronde, who is Teme-Augama Anishnabe of the Temagami Nation in Ontario, said she is doubly honored to be one of five distinguished Canadians selected for this degree, and to give the keynote speech to the graduating class.

Although a graduate of the University of Toronto, Laronde said “I have developed a special affinity to Trent University because of its Aboriginal programs.”

Trent is the first university in North America to establish a department dedicated to Aboriginal people. It began with Indian-Eskimo studies in 1969 and evolved into the Department of Indigenous Studies in 2006. This department includes not only a PhD program, but innovative and trail blazing programs for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.

“I have grown with Trent through attending Elders conferences,” said Laronde. “I have gained a better understanding of Aboriginal culture from sharing with the elders. At the same time I connect with the students and professors to find out what is happening at Trent.”

But it is Sandra Laronde’s extraordinary career as the artistic director and founder of Red Sky Performance and promoter of Aboriginal cultures that has earned her the honorary degree.

Her theatre productions have been seen by more than 350,000 people in countries that include Canada, the United States, Mongolia and China.

“We have performed in town halls in small communities in Canada and the United States, the Smithsonian Institute in New York, and in China’s most prestigious venue The Egg in Beijing. Our performance in the Smithsonian was one of their best attended shows,” said Laronde.

“It was packed to the rafters. Even the security guards wanted to see the performance. We are a lean, mean touring machine.”

Her company opened the show for Canada at the World Expo in Shanghai, and it was featured at Vancouver’s 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

Her performances combine dance, theatre and music with Aboriginal themes. She doesn’t stay home to dream up a show. She travels. In her performances she has linked Mongolian, Maori, Samoan and Canadian Indigenous cultures.

For her show Tono she travelled to Inner and Outer Mongolia. For her upcoming show, with the temporary name The New Zealand Project, she spent time in New Zealand with the Maori people. When a performance is ready she sets a schedule and it goes on the road. As demand for her shows increase by word of mouth, she has to do less and less promotion.

She has had 15 years working with Red Sky Performance, and has won 10 awards and become the Director of Aboriginal Arts at the Banff Centre.

In her address to the graduating students at Trent University, she says “I will stress that the biggest journey in life is from the heart to the head and back to the heart. To cultivate the heart and mind makes a powerful person.”