A harbor of creativity where designs, videos, and ideas of innovation dock to showcase my finest work.
As a water nymph, I cannot stray far from the shores.
The Neyades inspire me each day, and I must remain within their embrace,
where their whispers ripple through the waters.
Here is where I come everyday, making my best interpretations of their calls. Port Folio is where the ships land, the minds, and the wanderers, looking for a new gem, a new inspiration, or a new hope to hold into for a new brighter day.
Get to know more about real me - Neya Maaty and what the Neyades whispered to me throughout the years.
Here is my favorite couple Heather and Jon, I really loved being a part of documenting their sweetest moments that will last in memory forever.
If you are into Belly Dance, and you are around Toronto or Calgary, you will get to travel the world without a ticket. Her amazing dance skills, her laughter, dedication to her art, made me enjoy every shot, every scene, and every touch of editing I put here. Yallaa habibi learn some Egyptian Dance!
Jano is a very special Armenian-Syrian singer. You have no idea how this song was fun and amusing to film and edit. I really enjoyed every beat with it.
Aquario Beach in Toronto, I'm not going to say much, but It was a great place with an amazing spirit and very lovely staff, What do you need more for enjoying your sets.
Some really deep Sufi beats that will capture your heart and mind and will keep whirling in the space like the whole universe. You better close your eyes and breathe deeply to feel it to the core.
What is better than filming some yummy food ?!!! I'm hungry now !!
Look at the scenes and guess the stories until I finish project number 5444 and get finally to sit down and write them down!!!
I adore Ethiopian Culture! You will get to know some of most wonderful resilience stories in these beautiful small businesses.
Please find below some of my works on Focus Media Art Centre.
The Fire Within – A Conversation about Indigenous Education
By Nea Maaty
(Nea is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre)
Agencies serving the indigenous community in Toronto estimate that there are 70,000 residents living in Toronto. Many indigenous habitants reside in the downtown, low-income neighbourhoods of Regent Park, Moss Park and St. James Town. However, far too often Indigenous residents are invisible and only reflected in issues related to homelessness. In an effort to change this Focus Media Arts is partnering with indigenous community groups and individuals to bring you The Fire Within ~ a show committed to bringing you news and stories on Indigenous communities in the downtown east and City of Toronto.
In this first episode of The Fire Within we bring you a conversation about Indigenous Education with Sonia B-Inkster.
On September 30th, 2021, Canada marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is now a federal statutory holiday that recognizes and commemorates the intergenerational harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities. It’s a day that also honors the children who had died while attending the residential schools and the survivors and families that are still affected by the legacy of the residential school system.
The grave discoveries of indigenous children were shocking and disturbing. It is very sad and heartbreaking to think of all these children who were forced to attend these “ schools” but never made it back home. The tragedy is that their families were not even informed and worse still, no one was held to account.
According to Sonia B-Inkster, an indigenous educator, the government wants indigenous people to forget about the past. Sonia reminds us that before we could have reconciliation there must be truth. The government and the Catholic institutions that ran the schools must release all the documents and records.
On the issue of education, Sonia believes that everything we learned in the schools was from an Eurocentric colonizer perspective and has to be relearned. Here Sonia argues that indigenous education and learning does not just take place in schools surrounded by concrete walls but with elders, and in their families, and in their communities, and in their environments. Sonia explains, that the teacher Learner relationship is natural not because you went to university and got a BA, but because there is some knowledge in you that I would like to learn. Therefore, anyone can be teachers as long as they have a “knowledgeable”.
Nea is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre, funded by the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative.
Many business owners have been affected by the pandemic, both big and small. However, in an environment where anti-black racism is rampant, Black businesses often have extra challenges.
The St. James Town neighbourhood is a diverse, multi-ethic community that is home to many newcomer businesses, the most visible of which are restaurants. You can see different cuisines and ethnic food on every corner.
One ethnic community that has a strong footprint in the neighbourhood is the Ethiopian businesses. There are more than five Ethiopian restaurants and stores in the area. These businesses do not only serve the Ethiopian community but they are also sculpting new taste and preferences for residents in the neighbourhood. You’ll find their customers from every community coming to enjoy the Injera bread ( Ethiopian bread) and the delicious Bamya with beef ( Okra with beef). In these restaurants options are offered from Kosher to halal to vegan and vegetarian.
Unfortunately keeping afloat has not been easy. Sava, an Ethiopian business owner, tells us about her experience in opening “Shalom” restaurant right prior to the pandemic. The restaurant drained her and her partner’s finances and left them with no choice but to lay off employees and to work themselves. Together they worked more than 12 hours daily to run their own business and try to get back the money they invested.
Mohamed Dudu, is a long-time resident in St. James Town and enjoys living there. He says he choose to live in this neighbourhood, where all the political and religious differences dissolve. According to Dudu, “it’s sad to see the businesses suffering or shutting down.” Dudu hopes that shopping locally and the sense of community will make them survive.
Ahmed, another Ethiopian business person, is the owner of Awaze Halal. A butcher store that has been in the neighbourhood for 8 years. “Everyone knows that we are here. Our customers come and support us…the business could be better, but we are doing good”.
Dudu feels that profiling businesses such as Awaze Halai and Shalom are great opportunity to remind people to support local businesses. Instead of ordering online, go to the store for a pick-up. Instead of ordering from big chains, go to your local restaurant and make it survive.
Only this way, we will all survive together.
The St. James Town Co-op Outdoor Food Pop-UP
By Nea Maaty
(Nea is a journalist with the FOCUS Media Arts Centre
On August 12, 2021, the St. James Town Co-op launched an outdoor emergency food distribution pop-up in an open space behind the swimming pool located at 275 Bleecker and Wellesley Street. Located in the middle of the neighborhood, this pop-up was a temporary substitute for the regular food distribution in the Wellesley Community Centre. The Wellesley Community Centre, located at 200 Wellesley Street is now been used as a vaccination clinic.
The importance of the pop up was to distribute emergency food to residents struggling with food insecurity. Although the Co-op is struggling to secure a place for their food insecurity initiative, making sure that the needs of the community have been met is the Co-op first priority.
Yasmine, the Food distribution department manager explains to us how the initiative tries to offer different kinds of food that is culturally appropriate and that would keep the community healthy and fed. “There are a lot of people who know about this initiative." said Yasmine. " Sometimes, more than we can afford to cover.”
The outdoor pop-up was not an easy project to put together. The organizers had difficulties while setting up this event. Izewei Kuwe, a volunteer responsible for the food delivery department, explained that their pop up has faced different weather challenges like wind and rain, hot weather and the difficulty of keeping certain foods, like milk and eggs, without a fridge. These items are important especially for kids' growth and many low income parents would find difficulties affording them to their children. Nevertheless the Co-op continued to find a way to persevere and more than one member of the community indicated that it’s heartening to see them doing their best to support food security in St. James Town.
It's also worth mentioning that the co-op has been struggling with funding since March and they continue to be persistent in creating a neighbourhood without hunger.
The St. James Town Food Pop Up will last till the end of August or September, supporting the neighbourhood with emergency food.
The Fire Within – A Conversation about Indigenous Education
By Nea Maaty
(Nea is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre)
Agencies serving the indigenous community in Toronto estimate that there are 70,000 residents living in Toronto. Many indigenous habitants reside in the downtown, low-income neighbourhoods of Regent Park, Moss Park and St. James Town. However, far too often Indigenous residents are invisible and only reflected in issues related to homelessness. In an effort to change this Focus Media Arts is partnering with indigenous community groups and individuals to bring you The Fire Within ~ a show committed to bringing you news and stories on Indigenous communities in the downtown east and City of Toronto.
In this first episode of The Fire Within we bring you a conversation about Indigenous Education with Sonia B-Inkster.
On September 30th, 2021, Canada marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is now a federal statutory holiday that recognizes and commemorates the intergenerational harm that residential schools have caused to Indigenous families and communities. It’s a day that also honors the children who had died while attending the residential schools and the survivors and families that are still affected by the legacy of the residential school system.
The grave discoveries of indigenous children were shocking and disturbing. It is very sad and heartbreaking to think of all these children who were forced to attend these “ schools” but never made it back home. The tragedy is that their families were not even informed and worse still, no one was held to account.
According to Sonia B-Inkster, an indigenous educator, the government wants indigenous people to forget about the past. Sonia reminds us that before we could have reconciliation there must be truth. The government and the Catholic institutions that ran the schools must release all the documents and records.
On the issue of education, Sonia believes that everything we learned in the schools was from an Eurocentric colonizer perspective and has to be relearned. Here Sonia argues that indigenous education and learning does not just take place in schools surrounded by concrete walls but with elders, and in their families, and in their communities, and in their environments. Sonia explains, that the teacher Learner relationship is natural not because you went to university and got a BA, but because there is some knowledge in you that I would like to learn. Therefore, anyone can be teachers as long as they have a “knowledgeable”.
Nea is a journalist with the Focus Media Arts Centre, funded by the Government of Canada through the Local Journalism Initiative.
Many business owners have been affected by the pandemic, both big and small. However, in an environment where anti-black racism is rampant, Black businesses often have extra challenges.
The St. James Town neighbourhood is a diverse, multi-ethic community that is home to many newcomer businesses, the most visible of which are restaurants. You can see different cuisines and ethnic food on every corner.
One ethnic community that has a strong footprint in the neighbourhood is the Ethiopian businesses. There are more than five Ethiopian restaurants and stores in the area. These businesses do not only serve the Ethiopian community but they are also sculpting new taste and preferences for residents in the neighbourhood. You’ll find their customers from every community coming to enjoy the Injera bread ( Ethiopian bread) and the delicious Bamya with beef ( Okra with beef). In these restaurants options are offered from Kosher to halal to vegan and vegetarian.
Unfortunately keeping afloat has not been easy. Sava, an Ethiopian business owner, tells us about her experience in opening “Shalom” restaurant right prior to the pandemic. The restaurant drained her and her partner’s finances and left them with no choice but to lay off employees and to work themselves. Together they worked more than 12 hours daily to run their own business and try to get back the money they invested.
Mohamed Dudu, is a long-time resident in St. James Town and enjoys living there. He says he choose to live in this neighbourhood, where all the political and religious differences dissolve. According to Dudu, “it’s sad to see the businesses suffering or shutting down.” Dudu hopes that shopping locally and the sense of community will make them survive.
Ahmed, another Ethiopian business person, is the owner of Awaze Halal. A butcher store that has been in the neighbourhood for 8 years. “Everyone knows that we are here. Our customers come and support us…the business could be better, but we are doing good”.
Dudu feels that profiling businesses such as Awaze Halai and Shalom are great opportunity to remind people to support local businesses. Instead of ordering online, go to the store for a pick-up. Instead of ordering from big chains, go to your local restaurant and make it survive.
Only this way, we will all survive together.
The St. James Town Co-op Outdoor Food Pop-UP
By Nea Maaty
(Nea is a journalist with the FOCUS Media Arts Centre
On August 12, 2021, the St. James Town Co-op launched an outdoor emergency food distribution pop-up in an open space behind the swimming pool located at 275 Bleecker and Wellesley Street. Located in the middle of the neighborhood, this pop-up was a temporary substitute for the regular food distribution in the Wellesley Community Centre. The Wellesley Community Centre, located at 200 Wellesley Street is now been used as a vaccination clinic.
The importance of the pop up was to distribute emergency food to residents struggling with food insecurity. Although the Co-op is struggling to secure a place for their food insecurity initiative, making sure that the needs of the community have been met is the Co-op first priority.
Yasmine, the Food distribution department manager explains to us how the initiative tries to offer different kinds of food that is culturally appropriate and that would keep the community healthy and fed. “There are a lot of people who know about this initiative." said Yasmine. " Sometimes, more than we can afford to cover.”
The outdoor pop-up was not an easy project to put together. The organizers had difficulties while setting up this event. Izewei Kuwe, a volunteer responsible for the food delivery department, explained that their pop up has faced different weather challenges like wind and rain, hot weather and the difficulty of keeping certain foods, like milk and eggs, without a fridge. These items are important especially for kids' growth and many low income parents would find difficulties affording them to their children. Nevertheless the Co-op continued to find a way to persevere and more than one member of the community indicated that it’s heartening to see them doing their best to support food security in St. James Town.
It's also worth mentioning that the co-op has been struggling with funding since March and they continue to be persistent in creating a neighbourhood without hunger.
The St. James Town Food Pop Up will last till the end of August or September, supporting the neighbourhood with emergency food.
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