Our Team

Photo by: Nadya Kwandibens / Artist: Celeste Pedri-Spade & Evan Ducharme Studio

Indigenous Fashion Arts embodies the values of respect, collaboration and reciprocity. We rely on the skills and expertise of our leadership and team to operate IFA and our programming.

Staff

Sage Paul

Executive & Artistic Director

Sage Paul is an urban Denesuliné woman based in Toronto and a member of English River First Nation. Her ethos centres family, sovereignty and resistance for balance. Sage is the Executive & Artistic Director of Indigenous Fashion Arts, which she also co-founded. She has been instrumental in establishing and leading projects for Indigenous artists working in fashion, craft and textiles through several projects with Indigenous Fashion Week Toronto, Inland, Ikea Canada, the International Fashion Showcase during London Fashion Week, Setsuné…
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Kerry Swanson

Strategic Advisor

Kerry Swanson is Co-Executive Director of the Indigenous Screen Office, Canada’s largest Indigenous-led funding organization for Indigenous screen-based content. A seasoned executive and fundraiser, Kerry has supported the creation and growth of some of Canada’s leading Indigenous arts organizations and initiatives over the last two decades. She has served as both Board Chair and Executive Director of the imagineNATIVE, the world’s largest Indigenous film and media arts festival. She is a Co-founder of Indigenous Fashion Arts (IFA) biennial festival at…
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Candace Scott-Moore

Producer

Candace Scott-Moore (Wilde) [Anishinaabe – Ojibwe Potawatomi] is a graduate from the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and The Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity. Her Festival Producer and Project Manager roles have contributed to many successful events. With over 20 years of industry experience, selected career highlights include: Producer of Tkaronto Music Festival, imagineNATIVE Film & Media Arts Festival Awards, Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards; Associate Producer & Head Talent Coordinator of the Indspire Awards, Artistic Associate at Planet IndigenUs,…
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Kristy-Anne Inglese

Industry Manager

Kristy Inglese is Moose Cree from Moose Factory First Nation. She previously worked with Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival (IFWTO at the time) back in 2020 as the Festival Assistant. She is now the Industry Coordinator for the Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival and is extremely excited for this year’s upcoming festival season. Kristy enjoys working in events and festival settings and hopes to one day start her own event planning company. In her spare time, she enjoys reading a good book…
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A&C

Corporate Fundraising, Marketing

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Board of Directors

Jason Ryle

Chair / Interim Treasurer

Jason Ryle is a producer, curator, story editor, and independent arts consultant based in Toronto. He is Anishinaabe from Lake St. Martin, Manitoba. From July 2010 to June 2020, Jason was the Executive Director of imagineNATIVE, an Indigenous-run organization mandated to support Indigenous filmmakers and media artists. In this capacity, Jason oversaw all operational and artistic activities of the annual imagineNATIVE Film + Media Arts Festival, the world’s largest showcase of Indigenous screen content. He also oversaw the organization’s year-round…
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Jean Marshall

Vice Chair

Jean Marshall is of Anishinaabe/English descent, based in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a band member of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nation. An award-winning artist, Jean’s art practice is using Anishnaabeg traditional art forms and is inspired by the land and water. Marshall works with beads, fabric, porcupine quills and leather. She is also the founder of the Anemki Art Collective (2015-2020). Jean has curated several exhibitions including Their Breath in Beads at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery (2019), the Northwestern Ontario…
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Riley Kucheran

Riley Kucheran is an Indigenous fashion researcher who supports a global community of Indigenous makers who are leading design resurgence. His experience in fashion retail, entrepreneurship, and Indigenous theory means he sees fashion as a powerful tool for decolonization: Land-based Indigenous design relies on community relations to collectively make clothing in respectful and reciprocal ways. He is a member of Biigtigong Nishnaabeg (Pic River First Nation) and an Assistant Professor of Design Leadership in Fashion at The Creative School.
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Festival Team

Artistic

Cris Derksen

Composer

Juno nominated Cris Derksen is an Internationally respected Indigenous Cellist and Composer. In a world where almost everything — people,…

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Israel Garcia

Hair Stylist

Israel Garcia hails from Walpole Island (Bkejwanong) First Nation. With Ojibway and Mexican roots, and over 17 years in the…

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LESLEY BEARDY

Curator, Manitoba Spotlight

Lesley is both Anishinaabe and Inninew from the Missipawistic Cree Nation. She is based in Treaty One Territory Winnipeg Manitoba.…

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Melanie Egan

Programming Committee, Runway & Marketplace

Melanie Egan is the Director of Craft & Design at Harbourfront Centre with over 30 years of experience in the…

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MICHELLE RAMSAY

LIGHTING DESIGNER

Michelle is a lighting designer who works with dance, theatre, and opera companies across Canada. Selected designs include: Indigenous Fashion…

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MYRANDA SPENCE

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Myranda Spence is Oji-Cree; her maternal ancestral Cree roots are from northern Ontario James Bay and her paternal Ojibwe roots…

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Sage Paul

Exhibition Co-Curator

Sage Paul is an urban Denesuliné woman based in Toronto and a member of English River First Nation. Her ethos…

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Shane Belcourt

Director Consultant

Shane Belcourt is Tony Belcourt’s son. Or Christi Belcourt’s brother. Or Claire’s Dad. He is also an award-winning Métis director,…

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Production

Candace Scott-Moore

Producer

Candace Scott-Moore (Wilde) [Anishinaabe – Ojibwe Potawatomi] is a graduate from the Centre for Indigenous Theatre and The Banff Centre…

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Dehmin Cleland 

Workshops & Panels Coordinator

Dehmin Cleland is an Objibwe and Odawa artist. Originally from Wikwemikong, she now resides in Toronto as she completes her…

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LESLIE MCCUE 

MARKETPLACE COORDINATOR

Leslie Kachena McCue is a member of the Mississaugas of Curve Lake First Nation, who has fought for Indigenous rights…

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Liam Colbourne

Runway Coordinator

Liam Colbourne is a free-lance production and events consultant specializing in Fashion and The Arts. With many years of experience…

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Pesch Nepoose

Assistant Stage Manager

Pesch Nepoose is a Cree multidisciplinary artist from Edmonton, Alberta. She currently resides in Toronto, Ontario. In May 2019, she…

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Marketing

Damien Nelson

Publicity

Damien Nelson is press agent with 15 years of experience in marketing and communications in the arts sector. As a…

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Emma Petahtegoose

Marketing Assistant

Emma Petahtegoose is Anishinaabe, Onyota’a:ka and Lenape. Emma also goes by her Anishinaabe name, Niigaanii (pronounced nee-gon-nee). Emma was raised…

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Israel Garcia

Hair Stylist

Israel Garcia hails from Walpole Island (Bkejwanong) First Nation. With Ojibway and Mexican roots, and over 17 years in the…

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Robin Fisher

Marketing Coordinator

Robin has enjoyed an extensive career as a set and costume designer for theatre, dance, and film. Her design work…

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Industry

Kristy-Anne Inglese

Industry Manager

Kristy Inglese is Moose Cree from Moose Factory First Nation. She previously worked with Indigenous Fashion Arts Festival (IFWTO at…

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Programming

MYRANDA SPENCE

PROGRAM COORDINATOR

Myranda Spence is Oji-Cree; her maternal ancestral Cree roots are from northern Ontario James Bay and her paternal Ojibwe roots…

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Video Collection

Cris Derksen

Composer

Juno nominated Cris Derksen is an Internationally respected Indigenous Cellist and Composer. In a world where almost everything — people,…

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Shane Belcourt

Director Consultant

Shane Belcourt is Tony Belcourt’s son. Or Christi Belcourt’s brother. Or Claire’s Dad. He is also an award-winning Métis director,…

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