INDIGIFEST 2021 announced for August, the virtual celebration featuring Indigenous music, arts, and culture from across B.C.
The First Peoples’ Cultural Council presents the fest, with Squamish Nation Elder Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph and music industry trailblazer Elaine Bomberry among the show’s hosts
Big Willie G is a 21-year-old blues, rock, and country folk musician.
Jodie B. is an indie hip-hop artist.
THE FIRST PEOPLES’ Cultural Council has just announced INDIGIFEST 2021, an online celebration of Indigenous music, arts, and culture from all over British Columbia.
Taking place every Thursday evening in August starting at 7 pm PDT, the festival features performances by 18 Indigenous artists from the Kwadacha Nation in the north to the Nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) territory on Vancouver Island.
Each musical set will be interspersed with cultural teachings and storytelling, with musical genres ranging from country and folk to hip hop and blues.
Featured artists include Shawn Bullshields, Quinn Pickering, Nathaniel White, the Spiritual Warriors, Saltwater Hank, Jodie B, Hasaatuk, Big Willie G, Mr ClassiK and Darius McCook, Myc Sharratt, Bobby Garcia, Michelle Heyóka, Lorissa Scriven, Jason Camp and the Posers, Quanah Style, JJ Lavallee, MzShellz, and Meeka Morgan.
Elaine Bomberry, who’s Anishinabe and Cayuga from Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and now lives on unceded Squamish Nation territory, has worked as a freelance Indigenous performing arts activist, promoter, and manager for more than three decades.
The shows are being shared through FPCC’s digital platform pilot project ensuring the security of every Indigenous artist’s work, their intellectual property rights, and cultural copyright. Shows will be hosted by familiar names such as Squamish Nation Elder Xwechtaal Dennis Joseph and music industry trailblazer Elaine Bomberry.
Building on the inaugural Indigenous Music Retreat in 2018, INDIGIFEST 2021 is based on a circle of support, including mentorship and skills development, for emerging artists. The 2020 retreat was deferred because of the pandemic and adapted into the Virtual Music Performance Training Program, providing participants with media equipment and technical training. This allowed for each artist to become fully self-producing in the new virtual landscape.
“INDIGIFEST is much more than a festival – FPCC is passionate about offering programs, opportunities and mentorships that support the careers of Indigenous musicians and music industry professionals and contributes to building a strong and vibrant Indigenous music scene in B.C. and beyond,” Sarah Pocklington, FPCC arts program manager and INDIGIFEST executive producer, said in a release.
Jason Camp and the Posers are among the featured artists at INDIGIFEST 2021.
Based in W̱JOȽEȽP, on the unceded territory of W̱SÁNEĆ Nation (Brentwood Bay), FPCC is a First Nations-led provincial Crown corporation with a mandate to support the revitalization of Indigenous languages, arts, cultures, and heritage in the province. This festival is supported by Creative BC, the BC Arts Council, and the Province of B.C.
“Indigenous artists will own the stage to share their talents with audiences at this year’s virtual Indigifest,” Melanie Mark, Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport, said in the release. “Designed, produced and performed by Indigenous people, I’m so proud to support this initiative through the BC Arts Council and Creative BC. This year’s line-up looks amazing and I encourage everyone to tune in to this free online festival.”
For more information, visit: www.indigifest.ca .
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