November 27, 2026
Doors: 5:00 PM - Show: 5:00 PM
21+
Presented by Firehouse Performing Arts Center
Truthsgiving: A Decolonized Thanksgiving Show
with Bluedog, Jada Brown, Laura Hugo, Corey Medina & Brothers, and Imnížaska Drum Group
The Hook and Ladder Event Center
3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55406
Date & Time
Friday, November 27, 2026
5:00 PM
Location
The Hook and Ladder Event Center
3010 Minnehaha Ave, Minneapolis, MN, 55406
The Hook & Ladder & FPAC are proud to host "Truthsgiving: A Decolonized Thanksgiving Show"; A community get-together honoring the truth about Thanksgiving told through Indigenous storytelling and music. Event supported by VIG Handcrafted Guitars.

Imnizaska Drum Group is a vibrant, family-based intertribal drum collective based out of Saint Paul, Minnesota. Deeply rooted in cultural preservation and education, the group has been singing together for eight years, dedicating nearly five of those years to actively teaching and performing in local schools and community organizations.

Cindi Martin is an Indigenous Deaf poet, storyteller, and interpreter whose work centers Deaf Indigenous voices, language, and culture. Through poetry, teaching, and advocacy, she creates spaces for connection, visibility, and community healing.

Bluedog is an award-winning blues rock band featuring female blues vocals, rocking blues guitar, hot keys and solid rhythm and bass.

Jada Brown is a captivating singer and performer from the Twin Cities. Harnessing a deep and soulful vocal register, she stands apart from the crowd with her unique voice. Her lyrical savviness, warm tonality, and versatile style complement her sound. Her music is for the laid back lovers and introspective thinkers.

Laura Hugo is an Indigenous singer-songwriter originally from Teec Nos Pos, Arizona, located within the Navajo Nation. She moved to Minnesota in 2010 to pursue her music career and has become a prominent fixture in the Twin Cities and broader Midwest music scenes. Known for her honest, tender, and intricate songwriting, Hugo frequently utilizes her personal experiences with grief, trauma, and mental health struggles to craft deeply relatable folk and indie music. In July 2026, she celebrated the release of her debut 5-song EP, Where We Go to Grieve, with a high-profile release show at the Icehouse in Minneapolis.

Corey Medina & Brothers (CMB) is a Native-led blues-rock band based in Northern Minnesota. Founded in 2015 by Diné (Navajo) singer-songwriter and guitarist, Corey Medina, the band has grown into a powerful ensemble known for their soulful grit,
emotional depth, and immersive live performances. Built on brotherhood, trust, and a shared commitment to meaningful music, CMB performances invite connection, spark joy, and bring people together across generations and backgrounds. CMB's mission is to uplift and empower. Book Corey Medina & Brothers to create moments that move people.

Thomas Draskovic-Chetan Ohitika he miye (Brave Hawk, that is me.) I am Wahpe Khute Dakota and Hunkphapa Lakota and an enrolled citizen of the Standing Rock Nation. As an actor, I approach my craft with curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for the transformative power of storytelling. I see theater as a collaborative art form that fosters connection between writers, actors, and audiences. I draw inspiration for my writing process through my lived cultural experiences as a mixed race BIPOC artist. I have acted for the New Native Theatre, Mni Giizhik Theatre, Jungle Theater, History Theater, and Guthrie Theater among others, as well as short films and documentaries such as: The Boom, Surrendur, and The Greater Cummberland County Cooking Show.
As a solo musician and with Pretendians Band/Shadows in Stereo, I have strived to produce musical storytelling in line with my ancestral roots while representing my/ourselves as modern, progressive BIPOC artists. We have appeared on multiple print publications, radio interviews, and nominated multiple times for the NAMA. I have been an active member of the twin cities Native communities through my work in Native-led non-profits such as Wakan Tipi Awayankanpi, after school programs like Ginew/Golden Eagles, American Indian Youth Enrichment Program, and for the last 24 years as the Lakota Language and Cultural Specialist at the American Indian Magnet School, which is the most ethnically diverse school in MN.
I create and perform my art and music for anyone who appreciates curiosity and drives growth in the creative process that life itself offers to us. I am eager to immerse myself in the creative process alongside playwrights, musicians, and songwriters contributing to the development of new works and expanding my perspective as a performer. My goal is to inhabit each character with authenticity, serving the text and collaborating to bring their bold and meaningful stories to life.
Philamayayapi (I thank you all), Thomas-Chetan Ohitika he miye (Brave Hawk, that is me.)
========
Free Community Event :: Donations Encouraged!
=========