First Nations Welcome

April 22, 2009, 5:30pm

National Arts Centre - Le Salon

53 Elgin Street, Ottawa

This celebratory event welcomes First Nations artists from British Columbia into the National Capital Region for BC Scene festivities. It is an evening of community sharing between local Indigenous performers, visiting B.C. artists and other invited dignitaries.

JIM HART
Jim Hart, a Haïda artist who carries the Edenshaw family name, splits his time between his home in Vancouver and his home in Old Masset on Haïda Gwaii. His work with well-known Haïda artist Bill Reid in the 1980’s influenced his concern for aesthetic and cultural accuracy. He has carved many totem poles and is an accomplished jeweller. In 1999, he became hereditary chief of the Eagle Clan of Haïda Gwaii.

PIMADIZIWIN SINGERS
Kevin Chief of the Algonquin Nation and Rhonda Doxtator of the Oneida Nation together perform a traditional round dance style of singing and drumming.

ISKWEW
Iskwew (is-kway-yo) is Sandy Scofield (Métis), Brenda Hanson (Klahoose, Coast Salish) and Kym Gouchie (Carrier, Cree, Shuswap). Together, they create and perform songs in the plains, West Coast and northern interior traditions.

DANCERS OF DAMELAHAMID
The Dancers of Damelahamid are a traditional Gitksan dance group originally from the Skeena River in Northwestern B.C. They present masked dances, stories, and songs belonging to the house of Simoiget Hagbegwatku, the highest ranking chief of the Dakhumhast House.

Other events you might like:

Sandy Scofield / Fara Palmer
April 22

The Ecstasy of Rita Joe
April 29