Steven's Bio

   Steven Baranyai was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario and moved to the Niagara Region in 2000 to pursue his post secondary education.  He is of Anishinabe Ojibwe and Hungarian decent and has had the privilege of learning many valuable lessons having to walk with a foot in two worlds:  The North American World and the Turtle Island World.  

    He attended Mohawk College and Brock University studying Business Administration and finished in 2004.  He was then employed as a personal financial service representative with RBC Royal Bank and as a Marketing/ Tech Manager with the Southern Ontario Aboriginal Diabetes Initiative both for two year tenures.  He chose to be a stay-at-home parent after this and raise his children shortly after their birth.  He has continued for the last 10 years in learning and developing his skills as a multi-instrumental performer, storyteller, actor, singer/songwriter, poet, painter and educator through the arts.  Together with his partner Shannon, two beautiful boys, Eathen and Xavier and their golden retriever, Honey, Steven is grateful for the inspiration their family gives each other to follow our heart’s way.  He believes in the connected teachings of the Anishinabek and Haudenosaunee cultures and is very passionate about sharing these through various art forms.
     
Steven is very keen on expressing himself through his cultural art forms as a way to share his truths with the the intention of gaining a collective understanding to allow for reconciliation.  He believes this will gift ourselves a better world through forgiveness; together we can move forward unified in the understanding of our diversities.  

He is a founding member of the  U*R*ME, the Perpetual Peace Project and the Ohnia:kara Native Drum and Dance Group and has been sharing from his heart this way for over a 15 years.  He has 30 years of public speaking and musical experience and is excited to begin sharing with MADWEJIWAN... and listen to the moving waters.