Richard Lush
Richard Lush, Kitpu Amalkewinu (Eagle Dancer), is a Mi’kmaw man from Lennox Island First Nation, PEI, dedicated to Mi'kmaq culture, traditions, and community. He co-founded Mi’kmaq Heritage Actors & L’nuk Legends, an all-Indigenous theatre/film group, and is a director, actor, author, fisherman, hoop dancer, editor, producer, foster parent, mentor, athlete, and father.
Cross-Cultural Music Teaching: Drumming up Creative Participation in Mi'kmaq'ki
Mi’kmaq musician, dancer, and storyteller Richard “Eagle Dancer” Lush and orchestral percussionist and Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) educator Ryan E. Drew have co-led cross-cultural music workshops in dozens of schools, reaching thousands of students across PEI and New Brunswick. This presentation explores key lessons from co-teaching across artistic traditions, the pedagogical impact of intercultural collaboration, and strategies for designing meaningful learning experiences. Reflecting on six years of collaboration with Canada’s National Arts Centre, we examine how integrating Indigenous and Western art traditions fosters engagement, deepens cultural understanding, and inspires students to view music as a bridge between disciplines and cultures.