Artists remember the past, but forge a new future

Traditional and modern artistry merged and exploded on to the stage as a line-up of talented Aboriginal artists gathered to kick off the 10th Annual Talking Stick Festival during the opening gala on Feb. 1.

Nearly 200 people packed Vancouver’s Roundhouse Community Arts and Recreation Centre to launch the two-week city-wide festival honouring First Nations and Métis art and artists.

“It’s a beautiful resurgence of culture,” said Squamish Chief Ian Campbell of the festival.

Campbell, who hosted the gala, commended Aboriginal artists for their dedication to culture and legacy. “There are many great people here who are certainly keeping our culture alive,” he told the audience. “[Talking Stick] showcases the richness and talent of our people for the past 10 years,” he said.

“We’re going to have a fabulous festival,” said festival creator and artistic director, Margo Kane. “We’re building up to taking over the whole month of February,” she joked.

The gala, which brought together a variety of Aboriginal talent, also attracted political dignitaries.

Lieutenant Governor Steven Point of the Sto:lo Nation attended the gala, making a poignant and humble speech about the important role art plays in First Nations history.

“I’m here not as the lieutenant governor,” he said. “But as a brother to my Native brothers and sisters.”

“Music has always been a part of our lives as Aboriginal People, long before the arrival of newcomers to our country,” Point added. “We made these [artistic] expressions on drums and rattles and sometimes at all-night lahals,” he explained.

Throughout the history of Aboriginal art and culture First Nations people have left an “Aboriginal footprint that is entirely North American, entirely Canadian,” he continued.

“Now, even today, we have spread awareness [of First Nations art] throughout the country by using our language.”

“It makes me so proud to see the young people doing what they’re doing,” Point said of young Aboriginal artists. “They’re not afraid to be Indian in a modern world,” he concluded.

“Talking Stick brings together so many people from diverse nations and you’ve included us and we are so thankful,” Mique’l Askren of the Git Hayetsk Dancers told Kane before presenting her with a painting created by artist Mike Dangeli.

“As 20th century Aboriginal people, not only can we honor the past, but we can forge on into the future,” said Dangeli, who also leads the dance group. “This awareness of what is traditional and contemporary is really not our argument,” he continued.

“We were really heavy with our down today to show you how happy our hearts are,” he added, after the group unleashing clouds of feather down into the theatre.

Throughout the evening contemporary art flourished alongside traditional ceremony, as gala participants were fed the powerfully political expressions of Mohawk poet Janet Rogers and the razor-tongued styles of lyrical prophet Zaccheus Jackson.

Gala participants were also treated to the haunting sounds and graceful movements of half-Cree classically-trained cellist, Cris Derksen and fancy-dancer Shyama-Priya Singh.

Vancouver blues guru, Murray Porter, and musical groups Sister Says and Digawolf also shared their talents with the crowd.

Kane said the annual festival costs an average of $300,000 to host, with funds generated through fundraising, private donations, grants and in-kind contributions.

“I’m doing the best I can with what I have, but we need people to support us. People with passion for the arts” said Kane.

Kane said she hopes next year more Aboriginal people will get involved in the festival, adding that administrators, event organizers and curators would be welcomed by the non-profit organization.

“We really need more of our own people to be part of the arts community,” she urged. “We need to get more of our own people engaged.”

Kane said the festival she founded a decade ago is a labor of love.

“It gave me a sense of wellness that I could unleash creativity in my community,” she said when asked why she got involved in the arts. “Expressing yourself is really important. [And] expressing one’s creativity is one of the keys to health.”

Since its beginning years ago, Talking Stick has evolved from a one-day event to a two-week artistic showcase. The festival hosts arts events throughout the city and in the past two years the festival has expanded to venues in Vancouver’s Eastside, where Kane says a majority of the city’s Aboriginal families live.

Kane said her organization, Full Circle: First Nations Performance, has also developed a program in which Aboriginal artists go in to schools to share their craft.
“It’s a way for us to support artists in the community,” she said.

“I’m very positive. It’s been hard-going, but I’m very excited about this year,” said Kane, when asked how she feels about the festival. “It’s my life, working in the arts,” she added.

Future plans for the Talking Stick include creating a travelling festival where emerging and established Aboriginal artists can showcase their talents throughout the province.

Photo: Shauna Lewis