Celebrate National Indigenous History Month With These Art + Culture Events
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Poster of "Stories That Transform Us", to be screened on June 12 as part of Talking Stick Festival.
June 1st marks the start of National Indigenous History month. This month is an opportunity for us to immerse ourselves in the distinct histories and cultures of First Nations, Inuit and Métis people. It is also a chance for us to envision dismantling the systemic racism, inequality, and discrimination that Indigenous Peoples continue to face today in the arts and culture sector as well as other sectors.
In order to celebrate Indigenous History Month, we have compiled a list of Indigenous led events taking place in June. Many of these events are part of the Talking Stick Festival 2022, which is the initiative of the Indigenous non-profit Full Circle, and co-presented with a number of established arts organizations.
This list is by no means exhaustive and represents only a small fraction of the Indigenous cultural events in our province.
Events
TALK I June 3, Meet the Matriarchs: Squamish Nation Knowledge Sharers. As part of Indigenous History Month, join the Museum of North Vancouver for a special event with three generations of Squamish Nation knowledge keepers: Kultsia Barbara Wyss, T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss and Senaqwila Wyss. Through stories and song, these Squamish Nation matriarchs will share their wealth of knowledge on local traditions and culture.
DISCUSSION I June 5, Full Circle: A Rematriation Dialogue, is a free, half-day, in-person discussion, showcasing rematriation related to Indigenous cultures and movements aimed at youth aged 18-30 in Vancouver. This discussion aims to explore the theme of rematriation by centering the voices of Indigenous women in a storytelling workshop that will highlight Indigenous culture, knowledge and ontology.
PLANT WORKSHOP I June 4, Wild, Native & Medicinal Plants Workshop will be hosted by Lori Snyder, Indigenous Educator, and will teach about the importance of native plants for food, medicine, and shelter for all species. Find out how to best use these plants, seasonality and when to harvest, and what can be made with them.
FILM I June 12, Stories that Transform Us celebrates its 20th anniversary with a 90-minute documentary film that looks back on the depth and scope of its history through past productions with re-imagined creative shorts and theatrical works produced since 2001.
FESTIVAL I June 14, Talking Stick Festival presents Come Together Festival Opening. Celebrating the 21st anniversary of the Talking Stick Festival. We invite you to a evening with us that will commence with a cultural opening followed by the official opening of sacred skin (visual arts exhibition), a musical performance and a tattoo demonstration. Refreshments and appies will be served.
EXHIBITION I June 13 - 30, the exhibition Sacred Skin will explore the resurgence of Indigenous tattooing practices as they relate to cultural revitalization. This exhibition showcases the work of 7 Indigenous tattoo artists – Audie Murray, Dion Kaszas, GiG – K’aajuu G’aaya, Holly Mititquq Nordlum, Nahaan, Nakkita Trimble and Nicole Neidhardt.
CIRCLE CONVERSATION I Talking Truth Circle Conversation. In this Talking Truths circle conversation, you are invited to witness V’ni Dansi Artistic Director Yvonne Chartrand along with dancers Esmé Olivia, Sarah Hoglund-Gurulé and Elder Daystar / Rosalie Jones share the cultural practices, dreams, hopes and stories that are woven through the creative process of this collaboration that has its world premiere June 19-21, 2022 at the Scotiabank Dance Centre.
THEATRE I June 16 - 19, White Girls in Moccasins, co-presented by the Frank Theatre Company and following a sold-out run in Toronto, tells the story of Miskozi, who goes on a search for herself and her culture, accompanied by her inner white girl, Waabishkizi, and guided by Ziibi, a manifestation of an ancestral river. White Girls in Moccasins world-hops between dreams, memories, and a surreal game show as Miskozi grapples with living her own truth in a society steeped in white supremacy.
POWWOW I June 18, the DTES Powwow will honour all of the children lost at residential schools and their families. The Downtown Eastside Powwow fosters cultural pride and is a way to start to reverse some of the damage incurred by that school system. The beating of the drum resembles the beating of the heart while in the womb, and these drums are symbolic in helping children find, reclaim & celebrate their identity. This year marks the 12th Anniversary of DTES Powwow, and will be a day filled with healing, community & ceremony.
CELEBRATION I June 19, National Indigenous Peoples Day & Skwachàys Lodge 10th Year Celebration are celebrating this year’s National Indigenous Peoples Day and proposing to have a street event by closing Taylor Street, between West Pender Street and Keefer PIace. They invite you to join them to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day with amazing Indigenous performances, food trucks, and vendors.
WORKSHOP I June 20, Reframing our Worldview – Honouring Indigenous History and Experience. In honour of National Indigenous History Month, this session will focus on appreciating the impact of Indigenous history on our society today. Participants will be offered a different worldview that can help co-ops and organizations that serve co-ops reframe their awareness and possible biases that may conflict with Indigenous historical experiences. This session goes beyond telling about Indigenous history to providing tools and strategies that non-Indigenous people may use to self-assess possible biases and gain a stronger understanding of the richness of the Indigenous history in Canada.
TALK I June 20, Decolonizing Education and Institutionalizing Indigenous Cultural Safety is a free talk presented online by SFU. Canadian education systems are inherently colonial systems. In a time of Truth and Reconciliation, Decolonization, and Indigenization, many academic institutions are aiming to decolonize or reconcile their organizations. In this session we will examine the context for colonialism in higher education, how to address it, and embed Indigenous Cultural Safety in pedagogy, practice, and policy.
DANCE I June 19 - 21, La Mitchin di Mitchif, co-presented with V'ni Dansi is dedicated to sharing the stories and culture of the Mitchif (Métis), through both traditional and contemporary dance. La Mitchin di Mitchif is a new Indigenous contemporary dance work created through an international collaboration with Santa Fe’s Dancing Earth. Co-choreographed by Chartrand and Dancing Earth Artistic Director Rulan Tangen, the work is inspired by cultural ancestral knowledge of Mitchif plant medicines.
CONCERT I June 24, JB the First Lady and Old Soul Rebel will be performing at Ocean Art Works. A member of the Nuxalk and Onondaga Nations, Vancouver-based hip hop/spoken-word artist, beat-boxer, cultural dancer, and youth educator Jerilynn Webster—aka JB The First Lady—upholds an essential oral history tradition while confronting urgent issues like residential schools and missing and murdered Indigenous women.
MUSIC I June 24, Indigenous Summer Stage. The Talking Stick Festival, Vancouver Civic Theatres, and the Vancouver International Jazz Festival are proud to present the Indigenous Summer Stage at šxʷƛ̓exən Xwtl’a7shn (formerly the QET Plaza). Kicking off at 4:30 PM this free lively outdoor stage will feature the fresh sounds of Indigenous artists spanning multiple genres and nations. Featuring: Elaine Bomberry, Murray Porter, Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolfpack), and Zach Saunders.
DJ SET I June 25, Orene Askew, aka DJ O Show, will be performing at Ocean Art Works. Coming from a diverse background, O Show is driven by her passion. She is Afro-Indigenous and a proud member of the Squamish Nation. Feeling as though she stood out in a unique way, she embraced both her cultural backgrounds and incorporates the teachings she has learned into everything she does.
PANEL DISCUSSION + CONCERT I June 25, Let's Hear It! Live - Uplifting Indigenous Artists is back for the 3rd emerging artist showcase in this 4-part live concert series spotlighting new and emerging talent from diverse communities around BC. Curated in partnership with Talking Stick Festival, this showcase celebrates new and thriving voices in music. The artist showcase will be the finale of a powerful afternoon of panel discussions also happening at Fortune Sound Club. Come early to listen and learn from Indigenous perspectives on inclusion, wellness and diversity in the creative industries. Panel Discussions run from 3:00PM - 6:00PM at Fortune Sound Club (free).
MEDICINE WORKSHOP I June 26, Blending Teas With West Coast Wild Plants Workshop is inviting you to learn to identify a variety of plants that grow in the Pacific Northwest Coast and how to uniquely blend different medicinal herbs together. This workshop is led by an instructor with close to 30 years of experience blending teas with commonly found herbal medicines.
