Healing for Damaged Emotions
“We would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territories of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. With this acknowledgment, we thank the indigenous peoples who still live and care for this land.” This is the land acknowledgement Suana heard when he participated in 2019 TAIWANfest. As an Amis Indigenous person living in Taiwan, Suana has lived through the period of having complex identities, and music has become the lone outlet of his inner struggles and discontent on land injustice. Since his visit, Suana has composed a new song capturing his emotions on his experience in Canada. With a note he received from Charlie Wu, managing director of the festival, it became the lyrics for the song.
“Indigenous peoples in Taiwan still have work to do on the issues related to reconciliation. This song is written to call upon all Taiwanese to reflect on the lessons in Canada and to serve as a reminder that acknowledge the past wrongs and strive for the day and true reconciliation.” This is Suana’s brave and yet gentle wish.
The production of the music video is made possible with the support of Kent Monkman. All paintings used in the video are provided to the festival courtesy of the artist.
About The Artists / Kent Monkman
Kent Monkman (b. 1965) is an interdisciplinary Cree visual artist. A member of Fisher River Cree Nation in Treaty 5 Territory (Manitoba), he lives and works in Dish With One Spoon Territory (Toronto, Canada).
Known for his provocative interventions into Western European and American art history, Monkman explores themes of colonization, sexuality, loss, and resilience—the complexities of historic and contemporary Indigenous experiences—across painting, film/video, performance, and installation. Monkman’s gender-fluid alter ego Miss Chief Eagle Testickle often appears in his work as a time-traveling, shape-shifting, supernatural being who reverses the colonial gaze to challenge received notions of history and Indigenous peoples.
About The Artists / Suana Emuy Cilangasay
Suana Emuy Cilangasay is an Amis musician with many identities. He is a music producer, a singer-songwriter, a band music director and a theatre artist. Growing up in southern Taiwan, he only learned of his Indigenous identity when he returned with his mother to her mountainous hometown in eastern Taiwan. Church was his initiation into music, and he learned to play the piano, which led to the deepest bond with music in all his life. With his grandmother, mother, and godmother, he studied tribal languages and cultures, using the Amis language as the core of his creativity, combining traditional tunes, Western instrumental music and multiple styles to compose the world of contemporary Indigenous and urban youths. He expects the music to permeate deep into the soul of listeners and bring out different life stories.
2019 Highlights - Music and my Journey of Identities
“We would like to acknowledge that we are gathered on the traditional territories of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit. With this acknowledgment, we thank the indigenous peoples who still live and care for this land.” This is the land acknowledgement Suana heard when he participated in 2019 TAIWANfest. As an Amis Indigenous person living in Taiwan, Suana has lived through the period of having complex identities, and music has become the lone outlet of his inner struggles and discontent on land injustice. Since his visit, Suana has composed a new song capturing his emotions on his experience in Canada. With a note he received from Charlie Wu, managing director of the festival, it became the lyrics for the song.
“Indigenous peoples in Taiwan still have work to do on the issues related to reconciliation. This song is written to call upon all Taiwanese to reflect on the lessons in Canada and to serve as a reminder that acknowledge the past wrongs and strive for the day and true reconciliation.” This is Suana’s brave and yet gentle wish.
The production of the music video is made possible with the support of Kent Monkman. All paintings used in the video are provided to the festival courtesy of the artist.
2019 Highlights - Music and My Journey of Identities
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Kent Monkman
Cree Artist
Photo by Aaron Wynia
Kent Monkman (b. 1965) is an interdisciplinary Cree visual artist. A member of Fisher River Cree Nation in Treaty 5 Territory (Manitoba), he lives and works in Dish With One Spoon Territory (Toronto, Canada).
Known for his provocative interventions into Western European and American art history, Monkman explores themes of colonization, sexuality, loss, and resilience—the complexities of historic and contemporary Indigenous experiences—across painting, film/video, performance, and installation. Monkman’s gender-fluid alter ego Miss Chief Eagle Testickle often appears in his work as a time-traveling, shape-shifting, supernatural being who reverses the colonial gaze to challenge received notions of history and Indigenous peoples.
Suana Emuy Cilangasay
Musician | Teacher | Radio Host
Suana Emuy Cilangasay is an Amis musician with many identities. He is a music producer, a singer-songwriter, a band music director and a theatre artist. Growing up in southern Taiwan, he only learned of his Indigenous identity when he returned with his mother to her mountainous hometown in eastern Taiwan. Church was his initiation into music, and he learned to play the piano, which led to the deepest bond with music in all his life. With his grandmother, mother, and godmother, he studied tribal languages and cultures, using the Amis language as the core of his creativity, combining traditional tunes, Western instrumental music and multiple styles to compose the world of contemporary Indigenous and urban youths. He expects the music to permeate deep into the soul of listeners and bring out different life stories.
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