ÎJATHIBE WAPTA – In celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day, events showcasing First Nations art and culture will be taking place across the Bow Valley.
Both the Banff Centre and the artsPlace are hosting various events throughout the month of June, and the municipalities of Canmore and Banff have major events planned as well.
On June 21, the Town of Canmore will be holding a parade from 11-11:45 a.m. starting at the Civic Centre and then making its way down Main Street. From noon-2 p.m. at Centennial Park there will be a free community barbecue, an Indigenous art market and a round dance accompanied with dancing and drumming by the Smalleyes family.
On June 22, it is the fourth annual Banff Iiniskim Cross-Cultural Powwow taking place at the Fenlands Recreation Centre. The powwow starts right at noon and continues on throughout the night until 10 p.m. The indigenous market is also open from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
While in Banff, people are invited to board the Banff Gallery Hop’s art bus for a tour of the various art galleries from 2-6 p.m. in town before attending the powwow. The art gallery tour will end with free shuttle service to the Banff Iiniskim Cross-Cultural Powwow.
The Banff Centre and the artsPlace are collaborating by sharing the unique talents and arts of the Canadian’s Indigenous culture with workshops, live events and pop-up art exhibits.
At the Banff Centre, the workshops include, basket making (June 14 and 28), printmaking (June 17), moose-hide bracelet making (June 20) and a Maori dance workshop with Mana Taketake (June 25). ArtsPlace will host a beginner printmaking workshop with Deline First Nations artist Laura Grier on June 21.
On June 15, self-taught portrait and events photographer Nadya Kwandibens from Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nations in northwestern Ontario will give a talk at the Max Bell Auditorium at 7 p.m. The artist founded Red Works Photography in 2008. The company utilizes photographic essays, features and portraits to empower the Indigenous culture and lifestyle.
The following week, there will be a curator’s tour: This Land is Loney For Us (June 27) hosted at the Eric Harvie Theatre and a film screening by the Nakoda AV Club (June 28) at the Max Bell Auditorium.
The tour, curated by the Walter Phillips Gallery Indigenous Curatorial Research Practicum Sylvia Dreaver, is an exhibition that explores how cultural traditions can “be reclaimed upon a land from which Indigenous peoples have historically been dispossessed.”
A “dogumentary” from the Nakoda AV Club called, Ahomapénî; Relations and Rez Dogs will be screened at the Max Bell Auditorium. The film takes a look at the relationship between humans and animals on reserves and in urban areas, dispelling myths and stereotypes along the way.
ArtsPlace presents a live performance by Celeigh Cardinal, an art exhibit and hip-hop party presented by the ReFreshed Crew on June 20 at 6:30 p.m. Stoney Nakoda Heroes presented by Exshaw School students will be on display after its opening reception on June 25 at 5 p.m.
Cardinal’s concert on June 18 at 7:30 p.m. is presented in partnership with the Canmore Folk Music Festival. The Métis singer-songwriter is a headline act at the August long weekend festival.
The ReFreshed Crew, a non-profit organization that supports Indigenous youth, will be hosting an art exhibition and hip hop party to showcase the talents of youth in the Treaty 7 First Nations Territories. The organization uses the art of hip-hop, arts and culture to encourage empowerment throughout the community.
The Stoney Nakoda Heroes project is a special exhibition from the Exshaw School’s Grade 4 classroom. Students worked with elders from the Morley community to delve into their family histories. Researching back five to six generations, the students chose a hero from their family tree and sculpted them in clay. One Hundred Heads by Christine Wignall, who helped the Exshaw students with the project, inspired the project.
To wrap up the events this month, a film screening and discussion of the Indigenous 150+ musical documentary The Road Forward by Marie Clements will be held at the artsPlace on June 25 at 7 p.m. Through song and music, The Road Forward follows the Canada’s civil rights history from the 1930s Indian Nationalism beginnings to modern day First Nations activism.
