Building Bridges at the Indigenous Art & Cultural Exhibition

Welcome to the Indigenous Art & Cultural Exhibition! This special part of the festival features an Indigenous vendor market, art, cultural exhibits, demonstrations and music including Pow Wow singers, drummers and dancers.

You can also take in the Indigenous Art and Culture Stage and be inspired by renowned local and Canadian First Nation musicians who will be showcasing their talent with genres ranging from jazz, blues and folk jazz to more traditional styles.

Featured Performers:

Indigenous Vendor Market
Bedford Landing
July 22 & 23 from 10am-4pm

Check out incredible artisan works and creations made by local First Nations!

Workshops

North American Flute Workshop
Led by Arne Leon, Sts’ailes First Nation
Saturday, July 22 and Sunday, July 23 from 12:15-1pm

Arne Leon is a North American Flute Maker and Carver. His creative art career began at a very young age watching his grandfather hand-carving and building traditional dugout canoes. For the better part of his adult life, he’s been a self-taught carver making cedar masks for ceremony and decoration.

He resides in the Sts’ailes First Nations near the mighty Fraser River close to Harrison Mills, BC.

“I am very much involved in the Culture of the Sto:lo Nation territory and have been recognized as an ‘Instructor’ of our practice and protocols. I wish to share some insight during the workshop - some of my experience - over 20 years of practice & playing the Native American flute, which I personally enjoy hearing but also - sharing in the spirit of universal healing of Body, Mind, & Soul. Enjoy.” - Arne Leon

Cedar Weaving Workshop
Led by Teresa Walker, from the Nlhazkampx, Okanagan, Lakota, and Cree nations
Saturday, July 22 from 2:30-3:15pm

Teresa Walker has unique insight into traditional Indigenous artisan works and is actively representing a number of them through her gallery space in Hope, BC and throughout the province with her on-site vendor shop. Her workshop will feature a demonstration of cedar weaving.

Teresa Walker creates authentic handmade Indigenous products such as mixed media beadwork, pine needle, birch bark, cedar bark jewelry, and baskets. She will have an assortment of drums, rattles, leatherwork, bone, semi-precious stones and medicinal products available for purchase.

From the Nlhazkampx, Okanagan, Lakota, and Cree nations.

Learn more here → https://www.facebook.com/heavennearthnativeart/

Hand Drum Workshop
Led by Darren Charlie, Sts’ailes First Nation Drum Maker
Sunday, July 23 from 2:15-3pm

Darren Charlie, also known as Qwetoselten, is a well-known drum maker from the Sts’ailes Indian Band (a Coast Salish tribe located near Harrison Hot Springs, BC). He owns and operates Sasquatch Drums and Sasquatch Tours & Cultural Presentations.

Darren has more than 30 years of drum making experience, and was taught by elders from the Sts’ailes community. Darren has provided elk, deer, moose, and buffalo hand drums and floor drums to native and non-native communities in the Pacific Northwest. Many of his drums are in use in longhouses in the lower mainland and on Vancouver Island.

Darren has shared his knowledge of drum-making and singing with many different groups throughout BC and Washington State. He has created a workshop called Voice of the Drum which allows students to make their own drum, learn the teachings of the drum, and listen to native songs.

His drums have been displayed in the Canadian Pavilion at the Torino Olympics, and various locations in Vancouver; one notable piece is a giant 30” drum displayed on a totem pole carved by Francis Horne for Vancouver Native Housing.

Learn more here → https://www.stologiftshop.com/the-artists/darren-charlie/