D.B. McLeod Presents: Real Estate Problems

Hosted by Denise B. McLeod
Performances by Samantha Mandaamin, Lena Recollet, Krysta Williams, Ozhawa Anung Kwe, and Kevin Shawanda

Comedy is Art is made possible by Kingfisher Foundation.

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About the artists

Denise B. McLeod is a proud Urban Anishinaabe Kwe, whose home territory is Sagamok Anishnawbek F.N located on the north shore of Lake Huron. D.B., along with her comedy sisters, founded Manifest Destiny’s Child Comedy Collective in 2017.  While with MDC she has taken the stage for events like The Toronto International Film Festival, Royal Ontario Museum’s Friday Night Live, and Art Gallery of Ontario’s First Thursday. Denise was also invited to be in comedy shows like Mirchi Comedy’s (formerly known as Yas Kween) 4th Birthday celebration which was a part of the first edition of Comedy is Art. D.B’s comedy is rooted in her Indigeneity and focuses on making fun of colonization, misogyny and racism, just enough to make white men uncomfortable.  D.B. has graced the cover of the NOW magazine’s 2021 Love Your Body issue, beyond her love of comedy D.B. has a newfound passion for Burlesque and has performed at the Nogojiwanong Indigenous Fringe Festival, Toronto Indigenous Arts Festival, Pride Toronto and the 34th annual Weesageechak Begins to Dance.

Samantha Mandamin, an Anishnaabe Kwe from the Wiikwemkoong Unceded Indian Territory. An emerging artist, and Comedy Writer, performed in Indig-E Girl Comedy sketches with Misko Way Productions, collaborated with other Indigenous artists to create jokes in the web-based series “NDN’s On the Airwaves”, and has also co-written Comedy sets with other Indigenous Comedians. She is a full-status, Rez-raised Anishnaabe but aside from her First Nation Membership she is also a member of the all-Indigenous female comedy collective “Manifests Destiny’s Child”. Her dry, quick-witted comedy is unique and sometimes dark but combined with her positive outlook on life, she hopes to bring laughter and healing to her audiences across Turtle Island.  

Lena Recollet is Anishinaabe from Wiikwemkoong. Her worldview comes directly from growing up Rez while being Urban Indigenous in Toronto half her life. She is multi-disciplinary so she might share some deep poetry about the black hole while questioning reincarnation or she may randomly sing an ode to the Sasquatch. She is a poet, comedian and educator. Poetically, her next big gig is being an Opening Act for Rupi Kaur World Tour at Toronto Massey Hall on December 16, 2022.

Kevin Shawanda is a stand-up comedian from Birch Island, Ontario. His style of comedy can be described as dark, topical and indigenous. You can see him on stages across Ontario. He is a finalist on The Breakout Room as well as a Got Land? regular. He can be followed at @kevinshawandacomedy on Instagram.

Ozhawa Anung Kwe/Yellow Star Woman is a 2-Spirit Anishnabe from Rankin Reserve of Batchewana First Nation. Ozhawa has performed at the gathering for the Northern Indigenous Arts Alliance, Glad Day Bookstore, Sault Pridefest, the Montana Two Spirit Gathering and the International 2Spirit Gathering in Alberta. They have only done a few stand-up gigs, and it shows.