Aboriginal culture celebrated at EX

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For 10 days in July, Aboriginal entertainers, artists and craftspeople from across Western Canada will be featured in Edmonton's biggest annual celebration. Aboriginal Experience is part of Northwest Originals, presented by Northlands as an integral segment of Capital EX, (formerly Klondike Days) the summer exposition that runs from July 20 to 29.

"Aboriginal Experience brings the culture of the first peoples for the first time ever to the annual summer fair," said Lyle Donald, co-owner of Not Even Productions, which is organizing the show. "We'll be featuring Aboriginal vendors from northern Alberta and the N.W.T. Artists, designers, storytellers, performers and crafters will join corporate booths, government departments, educational institutions and services to make up an impressive display."

Donald said Northlands wanted to include an Aboriginal component as part of its newly revamped summer festival and recognized that no exploration and celebration of Northwest Originals would be complete without a large installation of Aboriginal arts and culture.

"We expect this will be a regular offering from now on," he said. Along with his partner Brenda Blyan, the company has assembled the entertainment, including the Edmonton Metis Cultural Dancers, Dallas Arcand, the newly crowned 2006 World Champion Hoop Dancer, the Juno-nominated a cappella group Asani that is in great demand for its traditional and contemporary singing and drumming, as well as West Coast dancers Le La La, to name just a few.

"It's all about promoting local artists and entertainers. We?ll be situated in the Sportex where it's estimated 800,000 people will pass through in the 10 days. It's wonderful exposure and promotion for our people."

Donald said his organization was approached quite recently to bring together the show, so were really pressed for time. "But we're already planning to form a committee with other Aboriginal groups from treaty six and eight, as well as others from around the city to start working now for next year's event," he said.

More than 15,000 square feet will showcase the creativity of the area's Aboriginal people, who make up more than 10 per cent of the population and who Northlands acknowledges need to be celebrated as an integral part of Edmonton?s cultural heritage. Paul Lucas is the business unit manager at Northlands and said his organization wanted to do a better job of being inclusive, to ensure the Aboriginal community was recognized and represented in Northlands activities.

"We put out a call to see if there was any interest and found lots of positive response," he said. "One of our plans is to participate in the steering committee with Aboriginal representatives that will work towards putting ongoing programming in place." Lucas believes that with the 90 per cent saturation of local attendees that Klondike Days enjoyed carrying over to the new Capital EX, it's an excellent venue to present the Aboriginal culture to the average Edmontonian and visitors as well. "Hopefully it will be a learning and sharing experience. It also creates employment, not just for the Aboriginal organizers, but also for the artists and performers from the exposure they will enjoy," he said. A colorful cluster of tipis will be the backdrop for daily showcases of music, dancing and storytelling

A total of 160 pieces of art will also be on display as a result of a partnership between Edmonton Northlands and the Nina Haggerty Centre for the Arts. Half of the articles are creations of developmentally-challenged individuals and the others from students from seven inner city public schools. The Nina Haggerty centre was established in 2003 at the corner of 97 St. and 111 Ave., offering a creative outlet for community residents who are developmentally delayed. A portion of the sale of art will go to support student art programs, purchase supplies, fund student art field trips and provide an opportunity for emerging youth to attend ser art cmps.

As well, the award-winning work from the past 25 years of the Peace Hills Trust Aboriginal art competitions will be on display.

More information about Aboriginal Experience can be obtained by calling (780) 451-1072.