Denver's Indigenous Comic and Art Festival is on the way!
ayA Con is a celebration of indigeneity hosted by and highlighting North American Indigenous creators.
This all-inclusive family festival will feature comic creators, bead artists, musicians, digital illustrators, designers, dancers, and much more.
Come celebrate your heritage and build connections with us!
Schedule:
June 11th, 2023
McNichols Civic Center
11:30am - 12pm : Cross Centered Records - Lvl 3 Main Stage
Cross Centered Records consists of 5elect 5creen, Kim Seaborn, Moriah Seaborn, Saint Boy Reggie, and Kemoy Music to "Move The Gospel."
12pm - 12:30pm : Michael Tafoya - Lvl 3 Main Stage
EMCEE, Audio Engineer, Chef, & Father; These are only a few titles that help crown this prolific hip-hop lyricist, EK's Interminable quest to build & innovate has allowed him to reach audiences from the greater southwest to the UK.
12:45pm - 1:45pm : Indigenous Knowledge in ElfQuest - Lvl 3 Main Stage
Join ElfQuest creator Wendy Pini in a deep conversation about the influences of family, connection and, tribal communities in the beloved fantasy series.
2pm - 2:30pm : Native Comedy - Lvl 3 Main Stage
Join Comic Joshua Emerson and friends for a few laughs in our Native Comedy hour.
3pm - 3:30pm : Slam Numba - Lvl 3 Main Stage
The mission of Slam Nuba is to promote the creation and performance of poetry, by cultivating literary activities and engaging community through the power of the written and spoken word.
4pm - 4:30pm : Dance Challenge - Lvl 3 Main Stage
It's a cosplay party! Show off your cosplay and get your dance on before our big Futurism Fashion show! How many Kpop, and social dances do you know? (cosplay is not required to participate)
Denver Art Museum
Wild Plum room - Cosmic Sky
10:30am - 11:25am : Make your own comic page! Artmaking Activity
Join independent comic creators in a fun artmaking activity about creating your own comic page! Already have a comic that you've been working on? Tell our artists about it and build a network!
11:30am - 12:25pm : Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse Rez Style
Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse: Rez Style is a creative discussion of the trauma, recovery and resilience of Indigenous people from a pop cultural lens made popular by George A. Romero and The Walking Dead.
It is an exploration of the way that Indigenous knowledge, science, weaponry and values helped Indigenous communities survive in the aftermath of their own apocalyptic realities and how it has prepared them to survive anything, especially ZOMBIES. It is a fun and unique way to discuss trauma and recovery with youth and young adults.
1:30pm - 3:30pm : Tomorrow Maker Film screening
Join the members of Tomorrow Maker Films in a brief panel about their non-profit student lead production company. Followed by a screening of their movies and films that are coming soon!
Denver Art Museum
Ruby Red room - Red Blossom
10:30am - 11:25am : Indigenous Writers & Representation in Literature
The publishing world has been particularly challenging for Indigenous writers who have had stories stolen, mistold, and misrepresented, for centuries. Join this panel featuring poets Crisosto Apache, Franklin Cruz, and other writers, storytellers, and waymakers as they discuss their approaches to creating pathways for Indigenous stories to be heard. Presented by The Word, A Storytelling Sanctuary.
11:30am - 12:25pm : Fandom and Mental Health
Come join in a discussion with Equilibrium Counseling Services about the intersection of fandom and mental health.
1:30pm - 2:25pm : Paper Cosplay! Artmaking Activity
Stop in for some fun paper crafts and even make some cosplay-based things to wear!
Denver Art Museum
Sky Blue room - Blue Skies
10:30am - 11:25am : How to make life work with ADHD/ASD.
Many of us deal with ADHD/ASD in our everyday lives. For a lot of us, it’s super disruptive. Join artist
Guy Davis (An ADD’er himself) as he talks about what ADHD/ASD is and shows some techniques on how to compensate for Executive Function failure as well as some tactics to help with navigating the social world.
11:30am - 12:25pm : Decolonization and Speaking Your Truth
Youth will look at the difference between colonization and decolonization, examples of poetry written in a historical framework on these topics, share in a conversation on how it impacts their tribal community, and discuss why it's essential that they speak their truth through writing and art as a form of decolonization. Concludes with a writing lesson with a prompt for youth to reflect on the importance of speaking their truths.
1:30pm - 2:25pm : Azteca Pop
Special guest, Jorge Garza, shares his story of Azteca Pop and what the cultural significance is in the art style.
