Nine-day celebration of indigenous culture kicks off in Vancouver
Posted July 22, 2017 1:29 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A festival celebrating indigenous cultures and traditions has is underway in Vancouver, as part of Canada 150+ festivities.
The nine-day Drum is Calling festival features First Nations, Inuit, and Metis performances.
Artistic director Margo Kane says the festival showcases indigenous culture through dance, music and arts and celebrates the three host nations: the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
“This is a kick-off to an era when we believe that indigenous peoples and non-indigenous peoples need to hear each others stories, learn to work together, come to celebrate together, sharing our cultures, sharing our stories, sharing our history.”
Kane is happy to call Vancouver a city of reconciliation, and says the festival has received a lot support from both indigenous and non-indigenous groups.
“Canada 150 + indicates that indigenous people have been here for more than 150 years. And the plus signifies that we’re thinking about going forward, walking together,” she says.
“Walking together in reconciliation, learning about each other, hearing about the stories of indigenous peoples of this land.”
Kane says the three host First Nations were approached by the City of Vancouver to talk about what indigenous people wanted to say about Canada 150, and that’s when they decided to put a “plus” after it.
