Artists

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  Featuring Richard Pellissier-Lush

  

  Featuring Richard Pellissier-Lush

  Richard Pellissier-Lush is a Mi’kmaq man from Lennox Island First Nation, PEI. His passions are based on his Mi’kmaq culture, traditions, loyalty and love of the First Nations communities and his family, the Mi'kmaq People.

  Richard works with L’nuey as an Engagement Officer and he previously worked with the PEI Aboriginal Sport Circle and was heavily involved with the two First Nation Communities here in PEI, his biggest strength is working with his Mi'kmaq brothers and sisters. Richard graduated and was selected to be the Valedictorian of his 2012 Sport & Leisure Management Program, and continued his Education at the University of Manitoba.

  Richard is one of the founders and original members of Mi'kmaq Legends (Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors), an all Indigenous Theatre Group that specializes in telling the stories, traditions, songs, dances, and culture of the Mi'kmaq from the past, and present. He has acquired and thrived in skills of public speaking, hosting engagement sessions, and educating non-Indigenous and Indigenous people of the Mi’kmaq on PEI, as well as working with and teaching the next generation about their culture and traditions. Richard is passionate about working with First Nation Communities to make sure the Mi’kmaq People know their rights, understand their rights, and help build a future for all L'nu that is strong and can flourish seven generations from today. 

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  Featuring Ryan Elliot Drew

  

  Featuring Ryan Elliot Drew

  Ryan (he/him) is an interdisciplinary artist, creativity researcher, and multimedia producer based in Epekwitk / Prince Edward Island. His work as a musical performer and recording artist blends his formal training in concert percussion with a passion for contemporary and popular styles of music. In addition to regularly performing with professional ensembles such as the PEI Symphony Orchestra and the Charlottetown Festival Orchestra, Ryan has appeared in venues and on stages across North America — including Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver, Colorado, and the Capitol Records Building in Los Angeles, California. Ryan is a Teaching Artist with Canada's National Arts Centre (NAC), Educational Outreach Coordinator for the PEI Symphony Orchestra, and has received funds from National Geographic to complete call-to-action projects supported by his scholarly writing on the impacts of climate-induced displacement on community and culture. Separately, Ryan is a visual design contractor with the Canadian Army, he maintains a private piano and percussion studio, and instructs undergraduate courses at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI).

  Ryan holds a Bachelor of Music from UPEI and a Master in Global Affairs from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos (URJC) in Madrid, Spain. He is currently working towards his doctorate in Interdisciplinary Studies with the University of New Brunswick (UNB) while balancing a busy production and project management portfolio with the NAC.

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