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Photo Credit: John Paille

T’áncháy Redvers [they/them] is a Dene & Métis two-spirit advocate, writer, creator, facilitator,
and multidisciplinary performer belonging to Deninu K’ue First Nation in Treaty 8 territory. With a BA in International Development Studies, Certificate in Civic Engagement & Global Citizenship, and a Master of Indigenous Social Work; they have been nationally and internationally recognized for their work and advocacy, featured in the likes of the Toronto Star, Buzzfeed,
Globe and Mail, ETalk, TEDx, and more.

At the age of 21, T’áncháy and their brother, Kelvin,
founded We Matter – a national Indigenous-led campaign and non-profit dedicated to Indigenous youth hope and life promotion. We Matter has become an international model for Indigenous youth life promotion efforts, garnering the Redvers siblings the Lawson Foundation’s Emerging Leaders Award and a Governor General’s Meritorious Service Medal.

T’áncháy is a published poet, children’s book author, and screenwriter, as well as featured in numerous creative, anthology, and academic publications. They have story-edited and written for shows airing on Netflix, Crave, Apple TV+, and PBS Kids. In addition to the over hundred talks, workshops, and panels they’ve delivered across North America and beyond, they are a performance artist and actor with performances and credits spanning Pride Toronto, CBC Gem, Paramount+ and more. They are also a member of BIPOC TV & Film’s Board of Directors/Visioning Committee, an organization working to uproot barriers for Black, Indigenous and People of Colour across Canada & screen media industry.

With a passion for exploring and unpacking topics such as intergenerational trauma, gender and
sexuality, youth and queer empowerment, and positive representation, T’áncháy’s approach is one that aims to decolonize understandings of identity, mental health, and healing. And ultimately re-create mainstream narratives of Indigenous and queer communities from a place of authenticity, joy, community, love, and healing.

Personal Website

Themes/Topics I am available to present on:  Indigenous youth mental health; Life promotion;
Decolonizing gender and sexuality; Media visibility and positive representation; Identity and self-expression; Creativity and storytelling

T’áncháy enjoys a collaborative approach for engagements, catering to the specific needs of the audience/participants. They are also certified in Transformative Creative Facilitation and available to lead more interactive sessions.

 

Example Talks:

Gendered Colonization and Rebuilding 2SLGBTQ+ Communities of Care
Two-Spirit and LGBTQ+ Indigenous people have always existed yet are the most likely demographic to experience violence, mental illness, and homelessness. The 2SLGBTQ+ Indigenous narrative is one that has been erased from history and this has profound impacts on belonging and mental health. In this talk, T’áncháy will unpack the 2SLGBTQ+ experience in the
context of gendered colonization; decolonize understandings of gender and sexuality; and reframe community from a place of care and support.

Creating Environments for Indigenous Youth to Live & Thrive
Indigenous youth are the fastest-growing demographic in Canada, but Indigenous youth suicide is a national and international crisis. So how do we reconcile a world where Indigenous youth are leaving it just as quickly as they are entering it? In this talk, T’áncháy will unpack
colonization and intergenerational trauma in the context of Indigenous youth mental health; explore the ways in which we are all contributing to this crisis; and outline the steps we can collectively take to ensure we are creating environments for Indigenous youth to not only live, but thrive.

The Power of Visibility and Representation
In 2016, with no money and limited connections, T’áncháy and their brother found 20 Indigenous role models who were willing to share their stories of hope with Indigenous youth who may be contemplating suicide. Those 20 videos quickly turned into the national We Matter Campaign, and in just a few years 200 more videos, including ones from the likes of NHL Hockey
Player Jordin Tootoo, Taboo from The Black Eyed Peas, and PM Justin Trudeau. We Matter is now Canada’s only national Indigenous and young person-led organization dedicated to Indigenous youth hope and life promotion. In this talk, T’áncháy will share their personal story
of building a ground-breaking movement, how that led to creating mainstream content for global audiences, and why that’s important.

Creativity as Resistance and Healing
Stories are power. T’áncháy can speak to or weave together their experiences as a writer, poet, actor, burlesque performer, and drag king working to take up space as a young Indigenous and queer storyteller. They will explore the ways in which our stories define us and how we all carry the ability to choose our own narrative. This can be accompanied by a reading or performance.

MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

To book T’áncháy Redvers, contact Rob Firing at speakers@transatlanticagency.com.

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