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Plantable Seed Paper Playshop

We’re grateful to be back in community to offer this Kapwa Playshop on July 22 and 23, 2023.

Make plantable seed paper and write love letters as an offering to the land 💓🌿 Co-facilitated by members of Kapwa Collective and presented by Musagetes as part of Seed School. This Kapwa Playshop will take place over two days, in an outdoor garden on the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, now known as in Guelph, Ontario at the ReMediate Pollinator Garden. Our intention is to heal ourselves, our communities, and our relationship to the land.

On day one, we will recycle letters, journals and other documents of the past and create plantable paper embedded with native seeds.

On day two, we will write letters to the land including our commitments for the future, and plant the seed paper in a local garden.

Register now

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"YOUR EGO IS NOT YOUR AMIGO"

An online sharing by Maria Montejo, supported by Kapwa Collective

Maria Montejo (Mam Jakaltec/Popti Indigenous Knowledge Keeper) will share teachings and guide us in reflecting on our relationships with ourselves, each other, and the land.

Date: Saturday July 18, 2020

Time: 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM (EST)

Format: Zoom Webinar

Limited space. Registration required. Please email Christine at kapwacollective@gmail.com for more info.

Suggested donation: $20 (CAN) or Pay-What-You-Can

All proceeds will go towards the “Your Ego Is Not Your Amigo” Conference to be organized by Maria Montejo

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MARIA MONTEJO (Deer clan) is an educator, motivational speaker, and consultant on Indigenous ways of life and practices. She is a member of the Mayan Popti community of Indigenous people who reside in the Xajla territory of Guatemala.

In addition to her formal schooling, Maria has been mentored from a young age by various Grandmothers, Medicine people and Traditional Teachers on Turtle Island and from Central and South America. Maria has had the privilege of being exposed and participating in various ceremonies and traditional cultural practices that have fueled her passion to develop programming that will bridge the Newtonian/allopathic model of wellness and an Indigenous/multi-dimensional approach.

Maria has facilitated the R.E.A.L. School Leadership and Native Wilderness Survival Skills Development program in various Indigenous communities throughout Canada, United States, San Lucas Guatemala and is currently working on running the program internationally. R.E.A.L. School is an Indigenous scientific based life skills program that uses interactive activities to guide participants through the 7C’s curriculum for the purpose of connecting them to their authentic self (spirit).

KAPWA COLLECTIVE is a group of Filipinx-Canadian artists, critical thinkers, and healers who work towards bridging narratives between the Indigenous and the Diasporic, and the Filipinx + the Canadian.

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2019 Fourth International Babaylan Conference

Muling Pag-Uugat (Re-Rooting)

Learning Land, Unlearning Empire: Recovering “Indigenous” Roots and Creating Kapwa Relations in the Settler Colonial Diaspora

Hosted by the Center for Babaylan Studies and Kapwa Collective WAHTA KANIEN’KEHA:KA TERRITORY YMCA Camp Pine Crest Torrance, Ontario, Canada September 20 - 22, 2019

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In this gathering, we invite participants to explore questions of healing, reclaiming, and revitalizing our indigenous identities as people with our own indigenous culture from the Philippines while also taking responsibility of our roles as settlers on Turtle Island. These questions are at the core of living ethically both to our collective ancestors and to the ancestors of Turtle Island. In this gathering we invite folks to explore the questions: • What does it mean to do “indigenous work” as diasporic Filipinos within these challenging contexts? • How does an understanding of our impact as “settlers” in the diaspora guide us toward honoring what it means to be “rooted in place”? • How do we move towards a way of being that aligns our own liberation work in collaboration and mutual accountability with Indigenous People and other historically marginalized and displaced peoples? • How do we ground ourselves in sustainable practices and learn respectful co-existence with all living beings? Generations of Native and diasporic peoples are coming together with a common interest in returning to wholeness and healing wounds caused by historic and ongoing violence. “Muling Pag-Uugat (Re-Rooting)” invites us to heal our cultures’ disconnection and isolation. We can draw from our Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Practices to find insights and wisdom to responsibly navigate the waters of remembering and work to recover our “Indigenous Spirit.” www.centerforbabaylanstudies.org/international-babaylan-conference

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Kapwa Collective and PACHA Arts co-present WAYS of WEAVING a zero-waste weaving playshop with special guests, Maria Montejo & Cynthia Alberto Date: Friday, April 5, 2019 Time: 6-9 pm Location: 519 Church Street Community Centre, Toronto Suggested donation: $40 (All materials provided) *Proceeds go toward supporting the 4th International Babaylan Conference (www.centerforbabaylanstudies.org) >><< Access: The closest accessible subway station is WELLESLEY. The 519 is a fully accessible building with gender inclusive washrooms. 2SLGBTIQ* Positive space. >><< ***To register, please send an email with your name and send e-transfer to: kapwacollective@gmail.com >><< Playshop Description: Maria Montejo and Kapwa Collective will share stories of Mayan weaving and indigenous weaving practices of the Philippines. Guest artist, Cynthia Alberto (Weaving Hand, NYC) will introduce the concept of zero-waste weaving. She will demonstrate basic weaving techniques, share woven tapestries, and teach us how sustainable weaving practices can benefit the environment. Participants will receive a wooden frame and learn how to make their own looms, then we will weave together! All materials are provided but participants are encouraged to bring recyclable and fabric-based items (i.e. plastic or paper bags, used clothing, etc.) to weave into their projects. Everyone can take their looms home! >><<  Bios: 

Maria Montejo (Deer clan) is a member of the Jakaltec/Popti (Mayan) community of Indigenous people. In addition to her formal schooling, Maria has been mentored from a young age by various Elders, Medicine people and Traditional Teachers on Turtle Island and from Central and South America. Cynthia Alberto is an artist, designer, and founder of the Brooklyn-based healing arts studio Weaving Hand, Cynthia Alberto seeks to bridge traditional and contemporary weaving techniques, drawing inspiration from ancient communities of Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa. Her artwork, performances, and public weaving projects honour traditional and artisanal techniques while also incorporating unconventional materials and a zero-waste philosophy. Throughout her artwork and teaching, Alberto continuously explores the many intersections between weaving and healing, as well as craft and sustainability. Kapwa Collective is a mutual support group of Filipino-Canadian artists, critical thinkers, and healers who work towards bridging narratives between the Indigenous and the Diasporic, and the Filipino and the Canadian. We are co-presenting the 4th International Babaylan Conference on September 20-22, 2019. www.centerforbabaylanstudies.org PACHA Indigenous Arts Collection is a family run business. Pacha (meaning "earth" in Kichwa) aims to showcase the best of indigenous arts and crafts. https://www.pachaarts.com 

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The Great Lakes Water Walk is an open invitation to all people to join an Indigenous-led Water Walk to honor Nibi (Water). Following Anishinaabe ceremonial protocols, Grandmothers and Elders will make water offerings, sing water songs and make petitions for our water to be clean and pure. The Walk will take place on Sunday, September 24, 2017 along the Tkaronto waterfront with a concluding ceremony at Marilyn Bell Park.

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Miigwetch Niá:wen Maraming Salamat Tey Bong S'lamat to Great Lakes Water Walk for sharing:

"The Nibi Song - written by Doreen Day - is a song acknowledging and honouring the water. Anishinaabe Grandmothers and walkers will sing Nibi song as part of the Water Ceremony during #GLWW17 🙏🌊

We invite you to learn the song so you can sing with us on Sept 24th and its origin story here": http://www.motherearthwaterwalk.com/?attachment_id=2244

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Rebirth. Renewal. Emergence. Play!  

Please join us in supporting the Conscious Minds Co-operative /// Spring Launch with Opening Ceremony co-created with Kapwa Collective

https://www.facebook.com/events/1902913039952829/

The Conscious Minds community officially launches as a co-operative after 4 years of rooting down and organizing Conscious Minds Camp. Help them celebrate & see what they’re about! 8:30 - doors open 9pm - Opening Ceremony co-created with Kapwa Collective kapwacollective.tumblr.com Sounds + Vibes by + Bea Palanca + Char Aragoza + Shane Free + byi + caaphDJORK + bodypainting + games + homemade goods being raffled + yummy snacks $10 advance tickets via eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cmc-spring-launch-tickets-33346154245 $10 before 10PM* at the door $15 at the door after 10PM !!!! BRING CA$H or CREDIT !!!! All donations support Conscious Minds Camp 2017, an educational and healing space among the trees and stars. www.consciousmindscamp.org  

blu graphic by the only Michelle Karen

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You’re invited to an historic encounter...

The Third International Babaylan Conference co-presented Kathara Pilipino Indigenous Arts Society and the Center for Babaylan Studies will be held on September 23-25, 2016.

Venue: YMCA Camp Elphinstone on the Sunshine Coast Unceded Coast Salish Territories.

Theme: MAKASAYSAYANG PAGTATAGPO (HISTORIC ENCOUNTER): FILIPINOS AND INDIGENOUS  TURTLE ISLANDERS REVITALIZING ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS TOGETHER 

More info: www.babaylan.net

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BY JANA LYNNE UMIPIG

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SALAMAT for two sold out shows, two engaging talk back sessions with The Journey of a Brown Girl cast and crew, great food from Kanto by Tita Flips, and awesome support form our volunteers and community partners.

SALAMAT to Amy Desjarlais (Earthtalker Water Project), Ester DulawanTuldague (Ifugao Association of Canada), Pantayo, and Combat Science - Warrior Arts of Asia for their meaningful solidarity presentations.

Heartfelt gratitude and respect to our ‪#‎JoBG‬ kapwa and our communities for going on this journey with us!

Together we dream this intersectional bridging narrative into action.

STAY CONNECTED: http://kapwacollective.tumblr.com Instagram: Kapwa Collective FB: Kapwa Collective

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Kapwa Collective presents the Canadian premiere of “The Journey of a Brown Girl”, an Experimental Theatre Movement from New York for 2 SHOWS ONLY!

August 28 & 29 at Toronto’s historic Factory Theatre

Get advance tickets at: http://thejourneyofabrowngirlto.eventbrite.ca/

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1668829313352412/

I have continually battled with the hypersexualization and exotification that is unfortunately a major part of the Pinay struggle and experience.

Google search: Pinay, Filipina, or Filipino womyn and you will see exactly what I mean, womyn being objectified and seen as a commodity to patriarchal structures.  And I hear it as I walk down my block, the racial slurs couples with the crude and violent come-ons.  It fills me with fire.

I am not someone’s fantasy of an obedient, fragile, sexually submissive, Asian flower, made-to-order bride, nicely packaged and shipped over to fulfill the pleasures of men.  I have battled with this image of myself that has been configured by capitalism, patriarchy, and man; equipped by my family, my community, my people with the weaponry of truths to who I am, by my bloodline of Babaylan, Warriors, Healers, Visionaries, and Teachers who have paved the way of my Journey and raised me into empowerment.

They have reminded me that Pinay have been and continue to be rooted in the center of their communities, Mothers of our country, revered and paid homage to.  I know how powerful I am, I know that I am Goddess by birthright and my light emerges from the eight rays of sun that I carry at my core.

- Jana-Lynne Umipig

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“We carry our ancestors in our bodies. When you relate to me, you also relate to my ancestors. And if I look at every individual as a reflection of their ancestors, and the thousands of ancestors that came before them, then I can connect past with present, present with future.” - “The Journey of a Brown Girl” in Toronto - AUG 28 & 29, 2015

Tickets: http://thejourneyofabrowngirlto.eventbrite.ca/

Event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1668829313352412/

Photo credit: Chauncey Velasco

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Kapwa Collective presents the Canadian premiere of “The Journey of a Brown Girl”, an Experimental Theatre Movement from New York for 2 SHOWS ONLY!

Friday August 28 & Saturday August 29, 2015 at Toronto’s historic Factory Theatre.

Get advance tickets at: http://thejourneyofabrowngirlto.eventbrite.ca/

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Sneak peek at what is Journeying our way from New York!

Kapwa Collective presents The Journey of a Brown Girl in Toronto 2 SHOWS ONLY: Friday August 28 & Saturday August 29

TICKETS: $15 - $18 Sliding Scale (In Advance) / $20 at the Door. Get advance tickets at: http://thejourneyofabrowngirlto.eventbrite.ca/

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Kapwa Collective presents: The Journey of a Brown Girl

KAPWA COLLECTIVE in Community Partnership with

Cahoots Theatre | Combat Science | EarthTALKER Water Project | Ester Dulawan Tuldague | Jaisa Sulit | Kapisanan | PANTAYO

presents the Canadian premiere of The Journey of a Brown Girl, an Experimental Theatre Movement from New York, for 2 SHOWS ONLY on August 28 and August 29 inside Toronto’s historic Factory Theatre.    

“And as I realize how deep their struggle lives within me - I realize that also their prayers, and faith and belief of me are in me.  And I am awaken to how I am ascendant to all those who will come after in similar ascension.  I see them.  I believe in them like my ancestors believed I would rise.  And so I rise, with open eyes, and mind, and heart and finally see them.” - The Journey of a Brown Girl, “The Dream my Ancestors Dreamed”

Created, produced and directed by artist and activist, Jana Lynne Umipig, this inspired and visionary performance harnesses the power of narrative and storytelling to engage audiences in deep reflection around the struggles and triumphs of the human spirit through the lens of the Filipina. Through collective exploration of Filipina issues and experiences, The Journey of a Brown Girl calls out and breaks down ill-representations of Filipinas and movingly reminds audiences of their true selves - powerful leaders, healers, visionaries, teachers and warriors of culture and communities.  The performance’s mystical movements and mesmeric malongs enliven and animate the strength of these narratives.    

Having performed throughout their homebase of New York and across country in California, this story speaks to diverse communities on empowerment of self and community and we welcome all to experience The Journey of a Brown Girl.

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DATE: Friday, August 28 + Saturday, August 29 Doors open @ 6:30pm  ||  Curtains up @ 7:30pm

VENUE: Factory Theatre, 125 Bathurst Street (Toronto). Seating is First-Come, First-Serve Basis.  Please come early for preferred seating and reception.

ACCESSIBILITY: Theatre is accessible to people using wheelchairs and other mobility supports.We also ask that you Share the Air and come fragrance-free.

PRICE: $15-18 Sliding Scale Advanced / $20 at the Door

SHARE THE LOVE + SPONSOR AN ATTENDEE: Kapwa Collective is committed to ensuring our gatherings/events are accessible and are offering a LIMITED number of sliding scale tickets. We also invite our friends, families and supporters to purchase ticket(s) on behalf of those who may need support with the cost of a ticket - contact us for details. 

To purchase tickets online, please click HERE

or email Aimee at kapwacollective@gmail.com

Come and experience with us.

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ABOUT JANA LYNNE UMIPIG

JL is a Filipina American teacher, healer and visionary who has dedicated her life to creating artistic and spiritual experiences to activate, challenge and uplift the human spirit. She is the creator of the Theatre Movement The Journey of a Brown Girl and the empowerment web presence “Love is a Revolutionary Act.” She continually seeks avenues to develop artistic expressions in both visuals and performance that reflect both the beauties and struggles of humanity.  Her life's work focuses on implementing non-traditional teaching and community building tools integrating arts and activism, advocating for the empowerment and humanization of all beings. She has worked with diverse communities throughout the United States using this model of work with both youth and adults of all ages.  JL received her Masters in the Arts at New York University, Steinhardt's Educational Theatre Program for Colleges and Communities and received her Bachelors in Theatre and Humanities with a concentration in Asian American Studies at the University of California, Irvine.

thejourneyofabrowngirl.com FB/thejourneyofabrowngirl

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The Female Eye Film Festival in community partnership with Kapwa Collective present: K’na, The Dreamweaver written and directed by Ida Anita del Mundo Trailer: https://youtu.be/c8Se0wN3pYw Sunday, June 21, 2015 || 2:00 - 3:30pm Small World Theatre, Studio 101 180 Shaw Street, Toronto As part of Female Eye Film Festival’s Indigenous Film Program, K’na, The Dreamweaver, 2014 Cinemalaya Film Festival award recipient for Best Production Design and Special Jury Prize, will be shared with the Toronto audience this Sunday. “Showcasing the natural beauty of South Cotabato in Mindanao, and the vibrant culture of the T’boli people and their tradition of t’nalak weaving, K’na the Dreamweaver tells the legend of K’na, a young T’boli princess who must choose between ending an age-old war between her village or following her heart to be with the man she loves,” stated Ida in a recent press release cited by BusinessWorld. T’nalak is a traditional cloth weaved with designs granted through dreams by Fu Dalu, the goddess of abaca. Sharing K’na, The Dreamweaver, and the practice of dreamweaving, fulfills Ida’s promise to the T’bolis that she would share their culture with the world. K’na, The Dreamweaver, will be shown alongside The Bride (directed by Khosrow Azarbeyg) and Female Eye Young Aboriginal Fimmaker Shorts and Q & A with the filmmakers to follow. Limited seating available. Tickets can be purchased at the theatre box office 30 minutes before show time. We look forward to celebrating K'na, The Dreamweaver with you. Tey Bong S’lamat. CONTACT: kapwacollective@gmail.com ============== ABOUT IDA ANITA DEL MUNDO Ida Anita del Mundo is a writer and musician. She writes primarily for The Philippine Star’s Starweek Magazine and has been a fellow of the Silliman University National Writers Workshop and the Iyas National Writers’ Workshop. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from De La Salle University-Manila. Aside from being a writer, she is a Music and Movement teacher at Bankstreet Summit School. She has also taught Literature and Art Appreciation at De La Salle University-Manila. Ida has been playing the violin since she was three years old. She is currently a member of the Manila Symphony Orchestra. ABOUT THE FEMALE EYE FILM FESTIVAL "Always Honest, Not Always Pretty" The Female Eye Film Festival, established in 2001, is North America’s top international Women Directors film festival. In it’s 13th year, the FeFF illuminates the best of independent films and offers the cinematic perspective of women directors from around the world. Presenting 86 films from across Canada, the United States, and countries including Armenia, France, Italy, Germany, United Kingdom, New Zealand, Iran, India, Australia, Taiwan, Uganda, and the Philippines. “These films are rarely seen in mainstream theatres, as women directors are under represented by the industry,” said Festival Founder and Director, Leslie Ann Coles.

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AUG 10 - Kapwa Collective & Pinoy Culture @KULTURA

Mark your calendars! On Sunday August 10th, 2014 Kapwa Collective and Pinoy Culture will be at the Kultura Filipino Arts Festival Finale/Marketplace open from 12-7PM. Explore the best selection of Filipino/English children's books in Toronto. Experience the beauty of T'nalak textiles and T'boli handicrafts. Learn about our TBOLIxTO cultural exchange. * Partial proceeds support the T'boli School of Living Traditions, Lake Sebu Philippines. Salamat to Kapisanan Philippine Centre for Arts & Culture for sponsorship support. Teybong S'lamat to our friends at the Lake Sebu School of Living Traditions.  Photo credit: Edwin Mercurio