City of Vancouver
News Release
April 26, 2017
Canada 150+ Signature Events Unveiled
Nine-day Drum is Calling Festival features iconic First Nations talent
Vancouver residents and visitors will have multiple opportunities to experience Indigenous culture on streets and sidewalks, in theatres, in parks and other open spaces during the City’s Canada 150+ events to be staged over the course of this year.
The events will showcase the vibrant living culture of our three Host Nations—the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh—as well as traditional and contemporary arts from the Urban Aboriginal and Métis people of Vancouver and beyond.
The nine-day Drum is Calling Festival set for July 22-30 in Larwill Park is one of three signature events planned for this year. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson and Festival Artistic Director Margo Kane today announced the unique Indigenous and diverse cultural programming for this festival.
DOWNLOAD Drum is Calling Festival Program
Some festival headliners include: Buffy Sainte-Marie, PowWowStep creator DJ Shub, singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk, country sensation Crystal Shawanda, Juno Award winner William Prince, rising R&B star George Leach, genre-defying artist Kinnie Starr, literary giant Tomson Highway, and powerful spoken word poet and musician Shane Koyczan.
“Vancouver is proud to be a City of Reconciliation and commemorating our heritage this Canada 150+ year in partnership with our host First Nations, the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh,” says Mayor Gregor Robertson. “Vancouver’s ‘plus’ in our Canada 150+ celebrations recognizes the heritage of our land before 150 years, our journey to the present, and moving forward with mutual understanding and respect with our local First Nations and Urban Aboriginal community. I encourage all Vancouverites to experience the music, traditions, art and more of our Host Nations at one of our many events this year.”
During the program unveiling some of the speakers included Chief Wayne Sparrow from Musqueam Nation, and Chief Maureen Thomas from Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
Additional highlights during the Drum is Calling Festival will include hands-on workshops and live programming inside the Indigenous housing forms built by the Kanata installation.
Indigenous Fashion Week (July 26–29), is the brainchild of former international model Joleen Mitton and will feature the super-stars and emerging artists of Indigenous fashion design and modelling.
The first signature event of 2017 will be the opportunity to witness a landing of the Pulling Together Canoe Journey at the Gathering of Canoes on July 14. Up to 30 canoes—with First Nations, Public Service Agencies and youth paddlers—will request permission to land on the traditional territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations.
During the third signature event, tens of thousands of Vancouverites are also expected to participate in the second-ever Walk for Reconciliation on September 24. In partnership with Reconciliation Canada and as part of the legacy of the inspirational Chief Dr. Robert Joseph, O.B.C., the walk will remind Vancouverites of the healing and transformational power of ‘Namwayut — We Are All One.
More details about The City of Vancouver’s Canada 150+ programming are available on the program’s website: www.canada150plus.ca.
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Media Contacts:
Veronica Rivas veronica.rivas@vancouver.ca
Rona Goodman rona.goodman@vancouver.ca
For further details see Backgrounder attached.
To request a high-resolution photo or Canada 150+ logo artwork, email media@vancouver.ca
