The Aunties
Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore
Kahstoserakwathe Paulette Moore is an independent filmmaker, lecturer, artist and educator. Moore is Kanien'kehàka (Mohawk) and an enrolled member of Six Nations of the Grand River territory where she is based. Moore’s work focuses on restoring spiritual, physical and economic balance at the place where Indigenous ways of being meet our modern experience. Moore spent two decades based in Washington DC working as a director, producer and writer with Discovery Channel, National Geographic, PBS, ABC and other media outlets. In 2004 she began making independent, community-based films as Shenandoah University's filmmaker-in-residence in Winchester, Virginia. Her 2007 film Wit, Will and Walls documents the history of desegregation in the Shenandoah Valley and has been used extensively in the U.S. and abroad to facilitate dialogue about race.
In 2009 Moore began work as an associate professor of media arts and conflict transformation at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. There, she collaborated with students to create To Wisconsin with Love: a film about Ojibwe resistance and envisioning in response to what would have been the world's largest open-pit taconite mine. In 2016 Moore created From Wisconsin with Love – a sequel to that film that focuses on the spiritual, economic, physical, and legal aspects of the act of harvest from the perspective of Ojibwe prophecy.
Moore recently completed Onkwawenna Kentsyohkwa - a two-year Kanien'keha (Mohawk) adult language immersion program at Six Nations and is an ACTFL intermediate high speaker. She is a PhD candidate (ABD) in Continental and Haudenosaunee philosophy with European Graduate School based in Saas Fee, Switzerland. Other clients include: Free Speech TV, UNHCR the United Nations Refugee Agency, PBS, ABC, Japan’s NHK and other NGO and media outlets.
In 2009 Moore began work as an associate professor of media arts and conflict transformation at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, VA. There, she collaborated with students to create To Wisconsin with Love: a film about Ojibwe resistance and envisioning in response to what would have been the world's largest open-pit taconite mine. In 2016 Moore created From Wisconsin with Love – a sequel to that film that focuses on the spiritual, economic, physical, and legal aspects of the act of harvest from the perspective of Ojibwe prophecy.
Moore recently completed Onkwawenna Kentsyohkwa - a two-year Kanien'keha (Mohawk) adult language immersion program at Six Nations and is an ACTFL intermediate high speaker. She is a PhD candidate (ABD) in Continental and Haudenosaunee philosophy with European Graduate School based in Saas Fee, Switzerland. Other clients include: Free Speech TV, UNHCR the United Nations Refugee Agency, PBS, ABC, Japan’s NHK and other NGO and media outlets.
Karenna'onwe - Dr. Karen Hill
Karenna'onwe – Dr. Karen Hill is a Mohawk physician from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. She is the mother of two sons and step mother to five daughters. Hill completed medical school in 2003 and Family Medicine Residency in 2005 - both from McMaster University. Prior to her career in medicine Karenna'onwe practiced as an R.P.N. for 10 years working in psychiatry and rehabilitation. She further went on to teach, write curriculum and develop post-secondary programming as the Manager of Programs and Services with Six Nations Polytechnic from 1994 until she entered medical school in 2000.
Karenna'onwe holds a vision to see Traditional Indigenous Knowledge return to the centre of life and healthcare for Indigenous people across Canada. This vision led her to co-create a collaborative healing practice with Traditional Medicine Practitioners at Six Nations called "Juddah's Place". In 2015 Hill became the first recipient of the Thomas Dignan award for Indigenous Health conferred by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. In the same year she also received The College of Family Physicians Excellence Award for leading the way in Indigenous collaborative care in primary practice. Also, in 2016 she was honored by McMaster University with a Community Impact Award.
Recently Karenna'onwe partnered with Kahsto'serakwathe Paulette Moore – A Mohawk filmmaker - to create "The Aunties Dandelion" media/research centre and healing space focused on supporting Indigenous embodiment and expanding the human family. Together the Aunties Dandelion create a monthly podcast, have filmed one movie and are in the process of starting their on-line store dedicated to repurposing used goods. Karenna'onwe continues to practice consultative holistic medicine at Six Nations and the surrounding area and is developing an Indigenous Health Program at the Brantford General Hospital with her colleague and Oneida physician Dr. Amy Montour. She has completed 4 years apprenticeship in Traditional Indigenous Medicine and continues this learning along with Kanyenkeha (Mohawk) language classes as lifelong commitments.
Karenna'onwe holds a vision to see Traditional Indigenous Knowledge return to the centre of life and healthcare for Indigenous people across Canada. This vision led her to co-create a collaborative healing practice with Traditional Medicine Practitioners at Six Nations called "Juddah's Place". In 2015 Hill became the first recipient of the Thomas Dignan award for Indigenous Health conferred by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons. In the same year she also received The College of Family Physicians Excellence Award for leading the way in Indigenous collaborative care in primary practice. Also, in 2016 she was honored by McMaster University with a Community Impact Award.
Recently Karenna'onwe partnered with Kahsto'serakwathe Paulette Moore – A Mohawk filmmaker - to create "The Aunties Dandelion" media/research centre and healing space focused on supporting Indigenous embodiment and expanding the human family. Together the Aunties Dandelion create a monthly podcast, have filmed one movie and are in the process of starting their on-line store dedicated to repurposing used goods. Karenna'onwe continues to practice consultative holistic medicine at Six Nations and the surrounding area and is developing an Indigenous Health Program at the Brantford General Hospital with her colleague and Oneida physician Dr. Amy Montour. She has completed 4 years apprenticeship in Traditional Indigenous Medicine and continues this learning along with Kanyenkeha (Mohawk) language classes as lifelong commitments.
Tamara Louks
Tamara is an arts management professional with over 20 years experience spanning the municipal, corporate, non-profit and academic sectors, advocating for creative communities, engaging spaces and inspiring cultural events. With a wealth of experience in project management, communications and partnership development, Tamara is known for her reputation of setting big goals and her track record for achieving meaningful impact.
Past work with key players in the culture sector include Wilfrid Laurier University, Idea Exchange, Grand River Film Festival, Cambridge Centre for the Arts, d3 Impact, Cambridge Symphony Orchestra and Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, along with providing both volunteer hours and community arts consultation for individuals and organizations as the owner of dab: Developing Arts & Business.
Tamara believes art, in all its beautifully diverse forms, is essential to empowering the hearts of people. It can transcend barriers, lift up individuals and communities, and open one’s eyes to new ways of thinking. She is thrilled for the invitation to join The Aunties Dandelion as Director of Special Projects, and looks forward to sharing their work with audiences worldwide.
Past work with key players in the culture sector include Wilfrid Laurier University, Idea Exchange, Grand River Film Festival, Cambridge Centre for the Arts, d3 Impact, Cambridge Symphony Orchestra and Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, along with providing both volunteer hours and community arts consultation for individuals and organizations as the owner of dab: Developing Arts & Business.
Tamara believes art, in all its beautifully diverse forms, is essential to empowering the hearts of people. It can transcend barriers, lift up individuals and communities, and open one’s eyes to new ways of thinking. She is thrilled for the invitation to join The Aunties Dandelion as Director of Special Projects, and looks forward to sharing their work with audiences worldwide.