welcome to nimihitotan
Nimihtotân is dedicated to creating a welcoming space in the dance studio for Indigenous people to learn contemporary styles of dance and Indigenous cultural dances.
Nimihtotân (Let’s Dance! in Cree) is an Indigenous grassroots initiative co-founded by Danni Okemaw (from Berens River First Nation and Manto Sipi Cree Nation) and Tiger Bellerose (from Driftpile Cree Nation). We prioritize Indigenous cultures, languages, and teachings within our workshops by incorporating kinship, reciprocity, storytelling, teachings, and language learning in our classes and workshops. Nimihtotân hosts monthly dance workshops in Edmonton (amiskwaciwâskahikan) to support Indigenous dance learners and facilitators of all ages and all levels. Nimihtotân prioritizes healing, intergenerational healing, and fostering community within the dance studio.
Tiger Bellerose
Tiger started dancing in 2016 after seeing choreography from Anthony Lee on YouTube. Tiger’s dance journey picked up in 2018 when he joined the University of Alberta Hip-Hop Dance Club, where through connections from the club he would start training at the Kore dance studio. From here on out Tiger would fall in love with dance and take in whatever dance opportunities he was given. Tiger has taught at the University of Alberta, Macewan and Nait at their dance clubs, participated in music video dancing, competitive dance competitions, and learned from recognized professionals artists such as Sean Lew, Brian Puspos and Sorah Yang.
Tiger is from Driftpile Cree Nation in treaty 8 and grew up in the amsikwaciwasikan (Edmonton) area, but is currently living in Vancouver BC. Nimihitotan has grown so much since the start (around 2020), and the progress that Nimihitotan has made continues to surprise and excite Tiger. From the beginning of Nimihitotan Tiger has experienced and come to fully understand what it means to embrace wahkohtowin, ahkamîthimok, ekwa sakihitowin (to help one another, perseverance, and love). As Nimihitotan grows so does Tiger.
Danni Okemaw
Danni Daysky Okemaw is Anishnaabe and Swampy Cree from Berens River First Nation and God’s River First Nation in Manitoba. She was born and raised in Winnipeg and currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta (amiskwaciwâskahikan).
Danni is passionate about various styles of dance, including Powwow, Contemporary, Modern, Ballet, and Hip-Hop. She began her dance training at 3 years old in Winnipeg, Manitoba, entering the powwow circle as a Jingle Dress dancer at 3 years old and later as a Fancy Shawl dancer at 10 years old. She currently dances in the Fancy Shawl and the Jingle Dress categories to honour Anishnaabe culture, language, and teachings.
During her undergraduate program, Danni developed a love for reading, writing, and research. She is also passionate about Indigenous language revitalization for Indigenous communities on Turtle Island. Danni is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Native Studies at the University of Alberta. She will be examining the relationship between Indigenous dance/movement and cultural resurgence, Indigenous language revitalization, and intergenerational healing.