Our History

Kakekalanicks Indigenous Art & Consultancy is a cultural production and advisory practice led by Michele-Elise Burnett, an artist, storyteller, and creative producer of mixed Indigenous and European ancestry, with Nipissing Algonquin roots.

Kakekalanicks began in the 1980s when Dr. Suzanne Rochon-Burnett founded the company as an art consultancy to help launch and support the careers of Indigenous, French, and women artists. Her work as a mentor and advocate helped open doors in the arts, media, and communications—creating pathways that still matter today.

Under Michele-Elise’s leadership, Kakekalanicks has evolved into a community-led, site-responsive, multi-sensory practice creating exhibits and experiences that people can feel, not just observe. Through sound installations, interpretive storytelling, artifacts, and place-based design, we help institutions and communities bring complex histories to life with care, consent, and excellence in execution.

Michele-Elise’s foundation was shaped by a lifetime in broadcasting and public storytelling. Raised by parents who were pioneers in Canadian radio, she learned early how platform can build connection—and how story can carry responsibility. A graduate of Radio & Television Arts at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson), she brings decades of experience in production, audience engagement, and cultural programming into every project.

Today, Kakekalanicks collaborates with elders, knowledge keepers, artists, historians, and community leaders to co-create experiences that are emotionally resonant and rooted in relationship. Signature productions and installations include Strawberry Moon Festival, Reawakening: Sounds of the Forest (Ball’s Falls), Rekindling All Our Relations (Niagara Parks), Her Moccasins Talk (Artpark), Gifted by Creator theatrical performance, Red Dress theatrical performance, Livng Mino Bimaadiziwin Exhibit and the national touring exhibit The Red Dress Exhibit: If Only These Dresses Could Tell Their Story. Michele-Elise also served as the indigenous chair for the the Erie Canal Bicentennial exhibit Waterway of Change, and was the Audio Director producing 15 audio installations that invite visitors into deeper reflection of the diverse narrative through voice, sound, and story.

At its core, Kakekalanicks is built on a simple belief: the arts are a powerful vehicle for education, truth-telling, healing, and public learning and when story is created with care, it can change how we understand each other and the places we share.

Our Vison

Communities and institutions across Turtle Island engage with culture, history, land through experiences built with care, consent and relationship

Our Mission

We design and produce community-led, site-responsive, multi-sensory exhibits and interpretive experiences that honour stories, deepen understanding, and inspire reflection, grounded in relationship and responsibility to the seventh generation.