Makhena Rankin Guerin
Makhena Rankin Guerin - Ottawa, CA
Aziz Moussa
Shout-outs:
Shoutout to my bro DJ MKWA
Bio:
Makhena Rankin Guerin is a Anicinape/Algonquin and French Canadian hoop dancer, born and raised in Ottawa but is a member of Abitibiwinni First Nation. As a traditional hoop dancer, she is dedicated to studying her traditional First Nation art form as a way to continue it for future generations. The hoop dance is a First Nation dance where dancers use hoops to tell stories of the land and its critters. A storytelling and medicinal art form, it is often showcased during pow wows which are traditional First Nations gatherings. Traditionally, hoops would be made out of Willow branches that were tied together, however today most use modern day materials, even sometimes they use futuristic hoops like led hoops. Recently, Makhena started designing her own patterns for her LED futurehoops so she can include traditional elements and designs into her hooping.
Makhena Rankin Guerin
q & a
My main prop is hoops, usually smaller twin hoops as they are the closest size to my traditional hoops.
**Are there values, stories, or intentions you hope to share through your flow?**
I'm passionate about educating others regarding the history and beauty of the traditional hoop dance. My grandmother lived in a time where she was not allowed to practice her culture so the fact that I am today not only able to practice it but to be proud and to share it with others, it really means a lot.
My style of flow is very inspired from my traditional hoop dancing. There are many artists I take inspiration from, like Marika Sila (also a mood hoops ambassador), James Jones (notoriouscree on tik tok and IG) and Theland Kicknosway (The_land on tiktok and IG) who introduced me to using led moodhoops when doing traditional hoop dancing.
**Are there environments that feel especially inspiring or grounding for you?**
I love practicing the most out on the land, it fuels my spirituality. Especially since I am representing elements of nature in my dance, being around it and taking the time to study it helps me to feel inspired and grounded.
I began my journey in the flow arts when I started doing indigenous hoop dancing at the age of 14. I realized there were a lot of similarities between hoop dancing and hooping so I started to train as a flow artist on top of my training as a traditional First Nations dancer.
The flow community has made me feel very accepted and inspired on how I can fuse different styles to create my own. I hope to one day inspire others to infuse their culture into their flow.
