Kevin Wesaquate
Biography
He is also remotely working from his home studio as a ‘Virtual Artist Teacher’ for Northern communities for the Taking IT Global, Connected North Program. He is one of their most valued presenters. Kevin is the founder of the Indigenous Poetry Society and has hopes of building an increasing community of spoken word artists. Kevin has represented Saskatoon for Tonight Its Poetry at the Canadian Individual Slam in Vancouver in April 2018. He also represented this group for the Canadian Festival of Spoken Word in 2017 and 2018. He recently finished the Indigenous Fine Arts Residency in Banff Centre for the Arts, called ‘Ghost Days, Making Art for Spirit. 2019’. From this he has created the Art Performance ‘Sahkihitok’, which was preformed at Nuit Blanche Saskatoon. His work has led to community initiatives like planting misaskwatomina (Saskatoon berry) shrubs by the river near downtown Saskatoon with a group known as Locals Only.
With many public speaking engagements (LUGO & Winterruptin) his aim is to always inspire the next upcoming artists, like the first Indigenous Poets Society Team who he had coached at CFSW 2019 in Guelph, Ontario. A collection of paintings that were created by Kevin Wesaquate still hang at the Saskatchewan Polytechnique Adult Education building. He is from Piapot First Nation where he learned the value of a community and proudly shares those teachings in Saskatoon or where ever his work takes him. Sahkihitok (love one another)
Kevin ‘POETIK’
Micro-interview
The first poem that had my attention was the poem called 'David' by Earle Birney. The use of language fascinated me and I felt challenged to write my stories and poetry in the same manor. I still strive to achieve a likeness in his poetry.
After high school I tried to keep a journal of poetry, it was a year later I found myself opening up some pages for my friends under one of Saskatoon's Bridges near downtown. To impress a girl, I liked and she called me a poet. I've been one ever since.
I think a poet's job is to express the challenges and simpler things in life. To bring the wider subjects in our world and assert them with eloquence and proper definition.
Not yet, but i will. My inspiration will be to allow younger Indigenous writers to feel a sense of belonging.
I would memorize Patrick Lane's 'Elephant Graveyard'
