Indigenous Day Live has long had a home at The Forks and this year is no exception!
This Saturday, June 22, the 13th edition of the event – which is meant to help all Canadians celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples – has activities on deck for the whole family starting at sunrise with a ceremony and sacred fire at Oodena Circle.
The rest of the daytime festivities kick off at 11 a.m. and include traditional storytelling and games, a powwow, a skateboard demonstration and competition, an artisan market with food and other items, a best bannock contest, a fiddle contest and an APTN Kids Zone, all of which are free!
Around 7 p.m., the Indigenous Day Live main stage concert starts; hosts Grace Dove and Daniel Roy will guide the night which includes performances by Manitoba artist Andrina Turenne, the award-winning Dakhká Khwáan Dancers out of Whitehorse, Iqaluit-based band the Jerry Cans, and Canadian music icons Randy Bachman and Buffy Sainte-Marie.
Prior to the main event, a crew of emerging artists will also get some stage time. Sebastian Gaskin and Ryan D’Aoust (with Nathan Halcrow and Daniel Koulack) will get the music started at 5:45 p.m.
As with the earlier activities, the concert portion of the celebration is free as well!