Indigenous Artist

Mariah Miigwans is well known in the Ottawa Indigenous community. She is a multi-talented Cultural Ambassador sharing stories through the hoop, fancy shawl, jingle dress dancing. She is currently working on building her platform, Miigwans Creations, a welcoming place, to learn, share and to exchange cultures and values the traditional aspects of 'trade'.

Mariah has worked with Aboriginal Experiences Tourism for several years, providing guided
tours, educating the peoples on various First Nations cultures, and presenting to youth across the Ottawa area, as well as elsewhere in North America. Some of her highlights include; 
- Attending The 2017 First Peoples’ Celebrations in Trinidad, hosted by the local Indigenous Santa Rosa peoples. Sharing dance performances, attending marches and meeting many International heads of states, political leaders, as well as Indigenous hereditary Chiefs.
- Participated in a Pow-Wow hosted by a French pro-indigenous organization, The Four Winds, In l'Ornans, France in 2018.  
- The Opening of Canada’s 150 event on Parliament Hill, dancing for esteemed guests such as the Royal Family and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. 
-Show performance with Cody Coyote in at the Ottawa Bluesfest in 2018.

When she is not dancing on the Turtle’s back, Mariah provides academic and cultural support to all First Nations, Inuit and Metis students. She has worked at Pierre Elliott Trudeau Elementary School, as a Special Education Technician with the Western Quebec Schoolboard, as well as other positions with the Ontario District Schoolboard. She also had the opportunity to sit on the Board of Directors for the Odawa Native Friendship Centre, and now continues to work with Indigenous women providing various supports as a Casual Relief Worker at Tewegan Housing which is a transitional home for women; where she recently got promoted to the Youth Indigenous Wellness Worker.

INDIGENOUS ANCESTRY

First Nations

SELF-IDENTIFICATION

Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, Algonquin First Nation