Art by Chucha

Grammy Award winner Ty Defoe (Giizhig) is from the Oneida and Ojibwe tribes of Northern Wisconsin and resides in New York City. He is a writer, lyricist, cultural pioneer, two-spirit advocate and is known for cultural arts, exchanging at museums, universities, and community centers across the country and internationally. He is honored to carry his mentors’ teachings in song and dance.

As a multidisciplinary artist, Ty has gained recognition in many circles around the world such as receiving an NEFA award grant for work on, Drum is Thunder, Flute is the Wind. As a two-spirit advocate, Defoe has been outspoken regarding the Native peoples’ understanding of gender expression, sharing “The concept of Two-Spirit, where the masculine and the feminine coexist in a person, has always been there among Native people; it’s just that it has been shamed and oppressed.” He is calling for the healing of the Two-Spirited community, saying there is “tremendous creative potential and amazing sense of fearlessness” that would come from it.

Ty strives to use art as a form of resistance, developing accessible artistic experiences for people around the world. “I think it would be so amazing to do an art piece that goes around the world that elevates people, but also creates systemic change for underrepresented people or oppressed people, whether it be for LGBTQ, Indigenous people, or communities affected by climate change…”.

Some of his current Projects include: Hart Island Requiem with The Civilians/R&D Group, Sunrise Prayer, and Gender Outlaw all for 2016. He mentors at the Alaskan Cultural Heritage Center & Hawaiian Theatre Initiative, and is on the facilitation team for artEquity. Defoe holds degrees from CalArts, Goddard, and NYU’s Tisch. Recently, Ty is an alumni of TCG’s Leading the Charge: equity, diversity, and inclusion fellowship. ASCAP, Dramatist Guild, and East Coast Two Spirit Society member.