The Algoma Fall Festival is presenting an expanded program of Indigenous arts and cultural activities in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, during October 2026. The initiative, known as Maada’ookiidaa, brings together music, dance, storytelling and visual art through a series of exhibitions and performances. Its name is connected to an Anishinaabe expression meaning “let’s share,” reflecting the program’s emphasis on cultural exchange and the sharing of artistic knowledge. The activities form part of the wider festival calendar and are being developed with guidance from an Indigenous Advisory Group.
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One of the exhibitions associated with the program is Shirley, An Indian Residential School Story, presented at the Art Gallery of Algoma from October 8 to 27. The exhibition is based on the book by Shirley Horn and Joanne Robertson and presents the experiences of Shirley Horn, who was separated from her family and placed in a residential school as a young child. Through visual storytelling, the exhibition introduces visitors to a personal account connected to the wider history of residential schools in Canada. Its presentation provides an opportunity to engage with individual experiences rather than approaching this history solely through institutional records.
The wider Maada’ookiidaa program combines contemporary artistic practices with cultural knowledge shared across generations. Music, performance and visual art can communicate different aspects of identity and historical experience, while providing opportunities for artists to present work within their own creative traditions. The initiative’s multidisciplinary format also recognizes that Indigenous cultures are not represented by a single artistic style or historical narrative. Participating artists may approach questions of memory, community and cultural continuity through different forms of expression.
