Six Nations of the Grand River, seedkeeper, storyteller

Haudenasaunee, seedkeeper, traditional gardener and craftsperson

Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, traditional knowledge carrier

Ph.D, Quechuan nations from Bolivia, sessional professor in Indigenous Studies at University of Ottawa

The Eagle and Condor Collective was formed in 2017 by Indigenous knowledge keepers, elders, artists, musicians and allies to share cultural knowledge between the Indigenous nations of the Americas and with others including both settler and newcomer populations. Our members and participants come from diverse racial, socio-economic, spiritual and gender backgrounds. To date, we have had a spiritual gathering in the spring of 2018 at Origin Arts and Community Centre. We also have done pop up traditional gardening and harvesting in 2018 and 2019. In the spring of 2019, we partnered with other nonprofits to create the No Borders Arts Festival. The collective recruited Indigenous artists for the gallery show, and led circles with five knowledge carriers, artists, musicians, and traditional gardeners. In 2020 we have distributed seeds for traditional medicines and are proud to be initiating this Neighbourhood Arts Ottawa project, Circles of Knowing.

Margaret Boyle is a multidisciplinary visual artist, an Indigenous traditional craftsperson and a hand drummer. She has been a professional artist and art educator for over thirty years after graduating from NSCAD University. She has taught Arts from Kindergarten to grade 12, as well as art education courses at three universities and the Ottawa School of Art. Marg embraces community art initiatives and is founder of the Eagle and Condor Collective as well as FNMIEAO. She creates artwork that focuses on traditional medicinal knowledge, spiritual visions and Msit No’kmaw.

Nelson Akawui Riquelme Catalan is a singer-songwriter of Quebecois and Chilean origins. His father, Nelson Fernando Riquelme Pincheira, introduced him to South American folk music at the age of three years. From then on, he spent his childhood busking in the streets of Montreal and Vancouver with his father`s band, playing Andean music. These experiences, along with his deep connection with his Indigenous Chilean heritage have inspired Akawui’s unique musical blend. Akawui is currently working on his first solo album, creating music that bridges his Indigenous roots with a contemporary electronic sound. Akawui is passionate about creating connections between Indigenous people internationally and is a member of First Nations drum group Sacred Wolf Singers.

Edgar Hernandez is a prolific artist whose work in sculpture, film, media projection, and digital technologies focuses on the difficult questions of habitat renewal, conservation and restoration. In two award-winning short documentaries, “Heroes of Pollination” (2019) and “Collective Presence” (2018), we can see his approach clearly. These films and others by Hernandez have been screened at festivals and galleries in Ottawa and Toronto. Born in Guatemala, Edgar Hernandez is based in Ottawa, Canada. He holds degrees in art and design, including a BFA (Sculpture and Media) from the University of Ottawa (2015) and a Diploma in graphic computing from La Cité. In 2015, the artist was awarded the University of Ottawa prize in sculpture. Nonetheless, this busy working artist still finds time to be an active community volunteer. He also contributes to community projects in Guatemala and the Dominican Republic.