EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY...for Toronto's esteemed Photo Laureate, Nadya Kwandibens

Nadya brings an indigenous perspective to her award-winning photography.  In this podcast you will learn  that it isn't just her technical ability with the camera that makes her work so special, it's  her gentle nature and empathy for her subjects that allows her to build a trust with people and that is evident in all her portraits. As she likes to say: "The camera is an extension of my arm".

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Transcript

Tom 0:06

Welcome to Hidden Gems Toronto, the podcast that introduces you to a variety of fascinating people and places that fly under the radar, but are a vital part of our city's fabric. I'm your host, urban geographer, Tom Scamland, and I invite you to don your virtual hiking boots and join us as we track down these compelling stories. Hands up. All those who know that the city of Toronto has a photo Laureate. I certainly didn't know, but an article in the paper caught our attention and we started to do some digging. What we learn is that our photo Laureate, Nadia Quanta bans. Is an award-winning talented photographer who brings a unique indigenous perspective to all her work. Here's what the chair of the city's economic and community development committee said about her appointment as our photo Laureate.

Sharon 1:07

Congratulations to Nadia, quite a Benz. Nadia has already made major contributions to photography through who works, showing contemporary indigenous lifestyles and Cultures. I have no doubt that her empowering work will continue to spark dialogue to road her three year tenure as photo Laureate

Tom 1:29

In this podcast. you will learn that it isn't just her technical ability with a camera. That makes Nadia special, but rather her kind nature and positive outlook that helps her build a profound trust with the people she is profiling. The story of who is behind the lens is as compelling as the portraits themselves. I hope you enjoy the podcast. Hello, Nadia, and welcome to the podcast.

Nadya 1:58

Hello, thanks for having me.

Tom 2:00

I know it's been a year or so since you were named our city's photo laureate, but I got to start by congratulating you. I mean, that's a terrific honor. Is it true that you weren't really aware that you had even been nominated

Nadya 2:13

Yes, I had received a random email. December, last year, and I, didn't know if it was, legit or not. I was like, I'll respond. Let's see, where this is at. And sure enough, there was a, jury, panel In the city that had, determined some of the, nominees or people they were wanting to, put in the position and, I was informed that they, they wanted me. So,

Tom 2:39

Wow. you're building a good case for reading random emails,

Nadya 2:43

I'm glad I replied back and here we are a year later.

Tom 2:47

that's terrific. So, no other city in Canada that I know of has a photo laureate. What exactly are your duties?

Nadya 2:55

yes, it's the first position of its kind in Canada, and I'm the third photo laureate. it's a three year term. So essentially what I do is, promote. different artists in the city, uh, connecting with artists and their, practice. I've been, journeying different, festivals, that, sort of thing. A lot of artist talks. I think I did 10 last year. I think a lot of people think that I'm like the photographer for the city. But it isn't that it's just essentially advocating, promoting different artists in the city and in my last year, I will have developed a legacy project, something lasting, I want it to be something lasting that, that's sort of a permanent, you know, Visual picture and something a message I'm not sure what that's going to look like yet. I still have, you know, two

Tom 3:48

Two years, yeah.

Nadya 3:50

Yeah, so I'm really just ruminating and letting the dream come and starting to visualize. Some of the, some of the different maybe materials that I want to use so like I'm just really sitting on it but it's still in the back of my head, it's still there and I want something to be meaningful, and something that speaks to my experience as a, as an artist as a photographer so it's something that speaks to. To others, so we'll see how it goes and we'll see what that ends up being

Tom 4:22

Well, based on your past performance, Nadia, I have no doubt. It's going to be great. So when you attend these events, what kind of questions do people ask about your work?

Nadya 4:31

I think one of the main things is because my work is so rooted in indigenous history. There's a lot of work that my portrait and, even events photography that I do, especially the marches and rallies I've covered concerning Indigenous matters. The question is often, you know, what can we do, what more can be learned from, a sort of base that my, what my work entails. And we're in a sort of era of reconciliation and that figures quite prominently. and my artist talks and just people wanting to learn, more. And my answer is always, you know, seek out artists, seek out, our Indigenous authors. there's so much that, Indigenous artists and, educators, you know, it's, hands down across the board. The work that we all do to uplift ourselves. There's so much that can be learned from indigenous perspectives, worldviews, cosmologies, philosophies. There's so much. There are languages, the land, right?

Tom 5:37

It's interesting that people want to talk to you as much about that they do about The camera and how to take better photos, but I think about all the things I could ask you There's parts of me that thinks maybe I should just tell our listeners to go to your site and look at your photos because in a way, to understand you and your story, it's kind of there in your photo. So I want to ask you this, what can I learn about you by looking at your portfolio? Not about the subjects, but about you.

Nadya 6:05

hmm,

Tom 6:06

We're here to pose tough questions, Nadia.

Nadya 6:09

I, I'm a very generous person. I'm very giving of my time and I make sure to allow space for others to share their story, to share their joys. To share their even griefs and traumas at times as well. I sit on several different series that touch on a lot of those experiences. and I have this just curiosity I want to know about you. I want to know about, where your family is from. how did you grow up? just being able to relate with others and people want to share their story. So I'm also a very good listener. just being able to allow others that space and that time to just sit and visit. That's essentially what my work is about. And what I do is I love to visit with people and really just. Get a sense of who they are and oftentimes we become really good friends afterwards. I have this huge network of people that I've met I first picked up the camera 24 years ago. So, that's a lot. there's so many stories there. And the thing I love about photography is I can look at something that I photographed years ago, and immediately be transported back to that moment.

Tom 7:32

but, you know, you say, you got all these years of photography, but really you came at it fairly late in life, right? Tell us about that. you didn't pick up your first camera till, was it college or university or?

Nadya 7:44

Yeah, I was studying film production at Confederation College in Thunder Bay, and I never ended up completing, that program. I ended up switching and I went to Lakehead University in Thunder Bay as well. And at the same time, worked at an internship at CBC Radio. There as well. So I was working at the station and doing English lit courses at the university. everything has always been around stories, I realized later in life, and a lot of those. opportunities, the thing that I, I strived for has always involved, storytelling.

Tom 8:24

Does this go back to your childhood? I'm trying to think what kind of experiences you had when you were growing up. I mean, did you have venue for expressing your, artistic talent? did your parents, encourage that side of you?

Nadya 8:36

grew up in the foster care system, so I grew up in state custody.

Tom 8:41

Okay.

Nadya 8:41

So, all throughout Northwestern Ontario, and I believe in some homes as well in, Manitoba. So, it was all the, In the same region, in and out of homes, quite often they don't know how many homes we were in.

Tom 8:57

my.

Nadya 8:58

Yeah, I was with my older sister and my twin brother, who sadly, passed away. so we were all kept together throughout. going in and out of these homes and I'm so I'm so glad for that because I really believe that I would have been a different completely different person. Had I not had that, closeness with my siblings going through the system. I don't know where I would be. so I'm really, I'm really thankful for that. One of the things that I did to cope, through just this, in and out of these homes, you know, okay, you are my mom and dad now. Oh, you're mom and dad now. Oh, you, and then I have, new siblings, and then it's always this this arriving and leaving this, arrival and departure. So it was never. constant I didn't have that solid upbringing. And one of the things that I did to cope I was told later that I was always a very artistic creative little girl. I really believe if I hadn't become a photographer, I would have been a musician.

Tom 10:01

Ah.

Nadya 10:01

I played instruments. I wrote poetry. I was very good drawer. I would play, songs off the radio on the piano when I was seven or eight, I think.

Tom 10:13

That's terrific.

Nadya 10:14

so one of the homes that I was in really nurtured. that aspect of me, so. So I was always creative growing up.

Tom 10:22

Well, let me, let me switch a bit. I know after your, time at, Lakehead, you were in Arizona what was it about Arizona that you found interesting from a photographer's point of view?

Nadya 10:33

I really got my start there. My partner at the time, which is the reason I moved there. We, had a little spot there and we really grew our network from there. he was also a photographer and he encouraged me to, Start doing portrait work, because up until then, I was only doing, just really exploring the craft, teaching myself some of the technicalities of photography, so he encouraged me to, start doing portraits, and it completely changed after that, to be, uh, Encouraged in such a gentle, supporting, nurturing way. I'm forever thankful for because I wouldn't be where I am, had I not, just went for it. So,

Tom 11:18

well, I mean, portraits are such an important part of your work,

Nadya 11:20

yeah, I consider myself, a documentarian first, given the scope of. the rallies and just all the situations that I've been in, uh, and a portrait photographer. so I started out on just this tiny point and shoot. I remember it was my first camera that I bought for myself and I've stuck with Canon since then. And we would go out walking, we lived on the outskirts of Arizona it was Tempe. Arizona. so we would go out walking and just, document, walk around, see what we see and, just practice. Really, I consider that, practice and just really understanding settings on my camera and just teaching myself and looking at light, teaching myself light quality, how light works. works throughout the day, you know what I

Tom 12:09

Yeah, it's funny, it's funny you mention light, when I think of Arizona, it's the colors that stand out for me. I mean, the oranges, the reds, the browns, there's something, you feel connected to the earth when you're there. I don't know if I'm explaining it right, but I always felt that about that

Nadya 12:22

Oh, it's a whole, energy. It's a whole vibe. you can't take a bad picture

Tom 12:28

I think that's encouraging for me, Nadia. So, around 2008 you established the Red Works Photography. Let me start with the name. How did you come up with that name?

Nadya 12:38

there's. The medicine wheel in indigenous cultures are not all, cultures, but, the medicine wheel figures prominently, uh, so the red in the four quadrants of the medicine wheel, represents indigenous peoples, globally. so that's the, the reason the main reason, and then, uh, red works, meaning like a body of work. So red works, it was a different name at first, but I cut the last part and then just, you just make it, catchy and simple

Tom 13:08

So, within Redworks, you've got lots of different categories. let's start with the one that you've called Concrete Indians. Now, what is that all about?

Nadya 13:17

Concrete Indians is essentially about. exploring who we are as indigenous peoples, within different cities within urban centers. So, I had been touring, I had moved from Arizona, I had been touring for so long on the road and just exhausted and I wanted a series that, I was passionate about just myself. And so, I thought at the time, what can I create that speaks to Who we are as Indigenous peoples and what is that exploration? what would a series like that look, like? I remember sitting, I had unpacked my luggage. I was, I was home and I had moved to Toronto by then. So I was home and I was sat on my couch and I was just thinking about all this. And I penned this. I essentially spammed all my friends with this

Tom 14:10

ha. ha.

Nadya 14:11

big, this email and an explanation what this, new series, my first series actually would be about. and it was just posed that question, who are you as an Indigenous person in the city? How do you hold on to your culture? How much is lost? How do you feel? what would a portrait? That explores your own identity. What would that look like? And so I sent off the email and I got responses back right away. Then minutes. So I knew I was on to something and timing is everything. So that series came at a time when I think, they needed an artist that could,

Tom 14:53

Well, I have to say, one of my favorite portraits in that category was a shot taken in the Spadina subway station.

Nadya 15:00

Yes.

Tom 15:01

of an indigenous woman dressed in the full traditional regalia. How did that come about? Why that location?

Nadya 15:07

Well, at that time, she was a part of a dance troupe, so they would do practices or different events they were hired for. And she said, often, she would go. Impartial, like, she'd maybe have her hair pieces on and her hair done already and she'd have her eagle feather fan out or, you know, different parts of her regalia. She would, already be dawning

Tom 15:30

I was just trying to picture the reaction of everybody else on the subway that

Nadya 15:34

Yeah, and, and, she would often yet go catch the TTC to, you know, whatever event, and I found that really interesting. and this was the way that she held, on to her culture. You held on to, you know, where she's from, who she is as an Anishinaabe quay. Uh, she's actually from the same area, as I'm from. So I knew her before. and I remember that day vividly, I had to borrow a tripod. I don't shoot on the tripod. I don't really have any gear except for my little camera bag here. but I remember hearing the jingles as she was coming down the stairs to that specific corridor.

Tom 16:15

Ha, ha, ha, okay, you have another equally, fascinating section to your work that you call the, the Red Chair Sessions. I just love it. So, do you want to talk about that a bit?

Nadya 16:26

=Yeah=, so I had the initial idea for it came quite some time before I actually launched, it. I was staying with my sister in Kelowna and I had this, dream and I imagined, I saw this red chair in the middle, like in the water, and I was like, oh my goodness, what does that mean? What is the red chair? What? What? it was so visually striking.

Tom 16:54

Amazing. Okay. Uh

Nadya 16:55

I thought, okay, I'm going to do a self portrait, with the chair. And I sat on that idea for so long and my niece actually photographed that portrait. lot of people really connected with it. And I was like, okay, I don't know what the red chair means though. What's going on. And it wasn't until Canada went 50, which, was what, 2017. That the idea came back and I was like, Oh, the red chair represents the red chair represents our connection as indigenous peoples to the land, our bloodlines, all of that history, all of those emotions, all because red. Is also, you know, it's blood, we're connected, to our ancestors through the land, by the land, we are of the land. So, essentially, that's what the series is about. And when I started photographing, portraits for it, I was like, well, languages Indigenous language. are derived from the land, and our different, land based, our practices, our culture, all there. So, I started, gathering different, treaty areas. There's a lot in this series that, that can be learned, Indigenous place names as well, and there's also, it's also about Indigenous languages, of course, and each person can share their Indigenous name that was gifted to them, either through. through ceremony, their own ceremonies,

Tom 18:33

Yep.

Nadya 18:34

they can share if they want, I know a lot really protect, their names because it's very spiritual.

Tom 18:42

Right.

Nadya 18:42

means, it's, it's direct, it's like, your names, it represents, your spirit. So, people can, uh, those photographs can share their name if they, if they choose to, but it's all written in the language, Indigenous

Tom 18:59

Wow. there's a, there's a video. I think it was one of your first ones, but, with your friend Derek. And he's sitting on a brilliant, red, seven foot chair. it's, it's just stunning. I'm wondering how that came about.

Nadya 19:13

Oh, I had received an email from Canon. Thank you, Canon. And this was before I signed, with Canon as one of their ambassadors.

Tom 19:21

That's right. We should congratulate you on that as well. That's another nice thing that you've been recognized

Nadya 19:26

Yeah, I was quite surprised by that one too. it came as, Oh, so honored to be with them. so Canon reached out wanting to do a feature behind the scenes video and a feature on. My work and what it's about. So we traveled down to six nations for that one, because that's where Derek's from Derek Miller is, um, a well known, well known indigenous, Mohawk musician, a blues musician from the area and the music that comes from that area, it's no surprise. and I had worked with him previously. Canon wanted to set up a behind the scenes shoot and all this, so I was like, who can I contact? Derek would be the perfect!

Tom 20:13

Sure.

Nadya 20:13

so we traveled down to Six Nations, and I found a chair on Kijiji, I think. I don't even know what kind of chair it is. I was just like, okay.

Tom 20:23

It's brilliant though, it is.

Nadya 20:25

Yeah. So we, transported the chair cannon in the crew picked me up. We went down to six nations and that video is the result of that.

Tom 20:34

Well to help people go to your site and ID because the video is really special. one of the most difficult projects you have undertaken was working on an educational and awareness program as part of the national inquiry. Into missing and murdered indigenous women and girls. You talked with family members who lost a loved one. I mean, how do you even begin to approach someone who's been through that and how does that ever develop into a willingness to take a portrait?

Nadya 21:02

my past experience, in being able to connect with others. so naturally. And being the type of person that I am, I am very generous and I I always need to stay in the moment. And it's sometimes it's hard to, to do that. But this project really was so special, necessary. And the way it came about was just so beautiful. lot of care and attention went into that. And given my work experience as well with CBC radio and the time and what I learned. Through my position there, just being able to open up, um, a gentle caring space for others to, to share their stories is so important. So I drew, upon my experience, being able to do that. And it's such a, um, It's such a heartbreaking

Tom 22:07

Yeah.

Nadya 22:08

thing to have to document, visiting with family members of, those gone missing and murdered. And so, I never like to leave, my time with people feeling, feeling low or, or sad or anything like that. As there were times when we, we were both crying and we would just, hug it out, you know, because uh, there's been times in my life where, you know, I could have, I could have gone missing or murdered, I could have, you know what I mean? It's just. Even just saying that now, it, it really affects, me deeply. so I walked into all of these sessions and we traveled all over Canada. during the course of two months, maybe even less than that, actually. So it was quite exhausting, but that is in no way. It doesn't come anywhere near close to what these families, go through.

Tom 23:07

But as you're speaking, word that comes to mind for me is trust. I mean, you must have built an incredible trust with these people and it must have been a real privilege, that you were the one that, they trusted enough to tell their stories and take some, portraits.

Nadya 23:23

Actually, all of, those sessions photographed where it started with ceremony. So, starting off in that way where the energy is clear and, you know what I mean? That's, that's important. That's very important. And so, I was left quite exhausted afterwards. I don't think I did anything for, for two weeks because it's lot to hold.

Tom 23:44

Yeah.

Nadya 23:44

I was quite emotional afterwards too. It took a while for me to, rejuvenate and just physically exhausting as well. Going from Iqaluit to Vancouver, zip over to the East Coast. Go central Canada. We're going to head to Winnipeg tomorrow. Okay. You know what I mean? So it was just,

Tom 24:06

Sure. Sure. Sure. Well, you know, I've read you said at some point that the camera is like an extension of your arm. What do you mean when you say that?

Nadya 24:15

it's sort of,

Tom 24:17

Like, do you become a different person when you pick it up, or?

Nadya 24:19

I actually think I do because

Tom 24:22

Yeah.

Nadya 24:22

I'm a very quiet person. I'm not shy. I'm just quiet. And once I pick up that camera, it's a way for me to connect with others and learn more about, their lives and, And I am that way by nature, but I recognize how great of a responsibility it is to even pick up a camera or any artistic you know what I mean? There's a great responsibility with that. And I don't take that lightly at all. You know, hundreds of years from now these images will still exist, it has to all be done in a right, in a good way. by picking up the camera, that extension of my being that's what I mean by that, recognize how important it is.

Tom 25:04

So, a lot of your work, Nadia, has got such serious, profound underpinnings. so, it might come as a surprise for people to learn that you, Nadia Quandibenz, has actually done comedy improv. Now, how did that come about?

Nadya 25:18

Yeah,

Tom 25:19

I just love that.

Nadya 25:20

and I, in hindsight too, I really think on that as well, as having, this pool of, experiences to draw from that make me a better make me, you know, photographer that I am. Yeah. So my dad and, my siblings and some friends in the, the area back where I'm from, we formed this improv theater troop. This was, I think. I think I was still in my teens, late teens, I wasn't in college yet. I hadn't moved away from home yet. So we would tour and we did, improv theaters throughout the region for, you know, different communities. And I really do draw on, those basic tenets of improv. and I apply that, I think in just my outlook and life and how I go about my, even just a day, or, you know, what am I going to be doing 10 minutes from now?

Tom 26:12

Well, you, you laugh pretty easily, Nadia. It's, it's really nice.

Nadya 26:15

yeah, you never know what's gonna happen and to draw on the audience or draw on, what's happening today, just to be able to accept that and, run with it, go with it. And it's really has become a life approach.

Tom 26:31

let me just ask, it's more of a personal question, but, I'm a non Indigenous person. I, I like to think that we're making some progress here in Canada in terms of, recognizing the history of injustices done to indigenous people. like almost every event I attend these days, it'll start with a recognition of the indigenous lands we're occupying. Now, part of me thinks, well, that's great. Part of me thinks it's a, well, a bit of a cop out. Like, honestly, sometimes I just wanna yell out, can't we just provide clean drinking water to communities in the north? am I being just a cynic or, what crosses your mind when you hear it? This recognition of the lands we are on.

Nadya 27:08

remember when all these events and I photographed so many throughout. I remember when these land acknowledgments first started, and I was like, okay, right, a step it's one step, and so many that I think should be taken. And you're right Some communities don't have clean drinking water. My own community was under a boil water advisory up until, I think, just recently.

Tom 27:38

Really?

Nadya 27:39

Yeah, so, and some communities I'm thinking of the Thunder Bay area and northern community is their students have to go to Thunder Bay, because there's not proper infrastructure or, you know, schools up north so they have to go to Thunder Bay, and, they're put in danger there in communities such as that. So There's a lot that still needs to be done. And when we go back to the missing and murdered indigenous women and girls, campaign that I worked on. When I think of the report. by the commissioners that was presented, how many of those recommendations have been implemented?

Tom 28:21

Sure.

Nadya 28:22

And how many reports have been done? There's RCAP, there's, all of these, reports that have been done. There was that apology by Stephen, Harper There's so much. the onus should not be on Indigenous peoples to teach. I think the onus should be on non Indigenous, to want to know. And to understand and empathize and truly understand what has happened

Tom 28:48

you know, Nadia, I know you're working on the Legacy Project. when you talked about the red chair, it's a bit like the Legacy. I really like that you seem to like ideas to percolate for a while. Fully confident. That something is going to come of it, and it might take a little time or a lot of time. So, I'm, I'm excited about this legacy Project.

Nadya 29:09

I don't know why this, keeps coming back to me is I want to somehow use or incorporate copper and copper is, among the, for sure, used in a lot of, you know, ceremonies. So I want to somehow incorporate copper and I'm not sure how. Yeah, like I mentioned what that

Tom 29:31

Wow.

Nadya 29:32

So,

Tom 29:33

we got two years to see what you come up with. So, here's my final note. This isn't a legacy idea, but on our podcast, we've done a number of interviews on the topic of climate change. And I can't think of a better group that we can learn from about climate change than the indigenous experience. I'm wondering, is the message of climate change, is that sort of inherent in your photography work? Or do you have any plans to be sort of more overt about using your camera lens to capture the relationship between indigenous people and the land and what we can learn from that experience?

Nadya 30:09

Hmm. We all know what's been happening, and we all feel it, and we can see it, and definitely the animals, the land, we know what's happening I think what's important, to draw it, I guess, somehow into the work that I do is to just understand Indigenous perspective and that we're all a part of it. What we do to the land, just as what's happening with missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, is what we do to ourselves. So, it's all related. Everything is related. And one of the things that I saw in the news recently that I thought was really Interesting is the return of bald eagles to this area but then at the same time, different, other species are going extinct, there's a flux and a flow to everything. And I think human beings, interrupt a lot of that

Tom 31:11

Well said, Nadia. You know, Natty at the beginning of our chat, I mentioned that we could simply look at your photos to learn all about you, but I really feel that we learned a lot by chatting with you today. We will direct people on our site to check your workout. I think the one overriding emotion I feel when I look at your portraits is a sense of pride on every individual's face. I think that will resonate with everyone who views your portfolio. I wish you much like during the rest of your term, as our photo Laureate, The city of Toronto is very fortunate to have you as are we to have you on our podcast. Thanks so much, Nadia Meg watch.

Nadya 31:49

A thank you so much for having me. It's been a, a real pleasure.

Tom 31:54

If you would like to see some of Natty is fine work, you can visit her site@readworks.ca. And upcoming, this may, she will have an exhibit as part of the doors open Toronto festival. As well, if you're in the Midland area, she has an exhibit at the Midland cultural center now until June eight. Sharon. And I had an opportunity to see her work at the cultural center. And we found it both stunning and inspiring, well worth the drive to Midland. And we want to give a special thanks to two time Juno award winner, Derek Miller. From six nations of the grand river, whose music we played to bookend this podcast. And finally we heard from our former guest mark GAD. Ki who was part of the medical team that has been performing complex operations on civilians and soldiers wounded in the war in Ukraine. She's embarking on another trip yet again, this month and mentioned that besides financial support, what they really can use as old suitcases. To carry over the medical equipment needed in the hospital. She told us a great organization called not just tourists, Toronto. Who collect suitcases for shipping medical equipment. To developing countries. If you have some old suitcases sitting around, well, here's a chance to give them a trip to save a life. You can learn more about them@infoatnjt.net. on our next podcast scheduled for July 1st. We're going to interview a gentlemen. Who wears his love for Scarborough on his sleeve. He is an environmental activist. Uh, public transit advisor and a Scarborough foodie all rolled up in one, not quite the king of Kensington buy clothes. You will learn a lot about this rapidly changing part of our city. And now we're going to close out this podcast. With a song from the great singer songwriter, Derek Miller. The tune is called heaven. Thanks for listening.