We’re thrilled to announce Danni Daysky Okemaw as this year’s Progressive Artist Award recipient! The announcement was made during MZD’s 40th Anniversary Salon: RUBY CABARET. The MZD Progressive Artist Award recognizes the achievements of Edmonton-based artists who actively work in the arts and engage with the community in challenging and exciting ways. We’d also like to extend a huge thank you to donor David Garfinkle (in honour of his late father) for making this all possible.

Danni Daysky Okemaw is Anishinaabe and Swampy Cree from Berens River First Nation and God’s River First Nation in Manitoba. Born and raised in Winnipeg, she now lives in Edmonton, Alberta (amiskwaciwâskahikan). She is the Community Engagement and Alumni Relations Coordinator at the Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta, where she organizes and supports Indigenous events, celebrations, and community-centred programming across campus.

Danni began dancing at age 3, training in ballet and entering the powwow circle as a Jingle Dress dancer. As she grew, she expanded her training into Contemporary, Modern, Ballet, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, and other styles. She has danced in the Fancy Shawl, Jingle Dress, Women’s Traditional and Woodland Strap Dress categories, and she currently dances in the Old Style Jingle Dress and Woodland Strap Dress categories. Through her movement practices, she honours Anishinaabe culture, language, and teachings, and she firmly believes that movement is medicine—reconnecting people to healing, land-based teachings, and intergenerational relations.

A dancer, organizer, and community leader, Danni co-founded Nimihitotan (Let’s Dance in Cree), a monthly Indigenous dance workshop series celebrating Indigenous movement, cultural resurgence, and community connection. She has also helped organize Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations and Indigenous Pride programming at the University of Alberta, supporting the visibility, joy, and resiliency of Indigenous, Two-Spirit, and LGBTQ+ students.

Danni is currently completing her Master of Arts in Native Studies, examining the relationship between Indigenous dance and movement, cultural resurgence, language revitalization, and intergenerational healing. Coming from a family of Anishinaabemowin and Ininímowin language keepers, she is committed to continuing her parents’ legacy of Indigenous language revitalization for communities across Turtle Island.