Rosary Spence – Piisimonapii Iskwew / Rainbow Woman
About Rosary Spence – Piisimonapii Iskwew / Rainbow Woman
Mushkego Cree, Bear Clan
Rosary Spence, is a traditional vocalist from Fort Albany First Nation, a remote Cree community on the western shores of James Bay in northern Ontario. Singing has been a lifelong journey for Rosary, who finds healing through sharing her story in performance, teaching, and ceremony.
In addition to her musical path, Rosary is a designer, beadwork artist, arts collaborator, and facilitator, with an extensive background in arts and cultural production. She has also contributed to Indigenous community well-being as an educator, social worker, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, and spiritual practitioner. Deeply committed to community healing, Rosary believes in the power of land-based practices, Indigenous languages, ceremony, and traditional plant medicines to restore balance.
Currently residing in Scarborough, Ontario, where she is raising her family, Rosary continues to work within Indigenous arts and community spaces, weaving together creativity, cultural knowledge, and healing.
Artistic Highlights
• Singer / Song Composer / Arts Facilitator – Rosary Spence – Home
• Designer – Manitobah Mukluks, Rosary Spence Beadwork | Manitobah | Walk With Us
• Beadwork Artist – Designs by Rosary (Instagram)
• Associate Indigenous Artist – Canadian Arabic Orchestra
• Co-curator – Indigenous Grooves, FabCollab
• Co-curator – Miigwech Collective x Luminato Festival
• Podcast Contributor – CARFAC: Indigenous Protocols Podcast Series, Episode 2
Events with Rosary Spence – Piisimonapii Iskwew / Rainbow Woman
Disrupting the Stage: Indigenous Artists on Language, Education, and Sovereign
Music is a living archive that carries culture forward while creating space for new forms of expression. Yet, for Indigenous communities, the continuity of these cultural traditions has often been...