Canadian Aboriginal Festival continues to grow

Page 20

Toronto's SkyDome will be the place to be at the end of November, during the annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival.

The festival will run from Nov. 28 to Dec. 1, featuring all the events and activities regular festival goers are familiar with, along with a couple of new events.

One of the new additions is a fundraising dinner and concert on Nov. 29. The concert will feature performances by some of the award winners from the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, which will be handed out the evening before.

Unlike last year, when the music awards were held at the Casino Rama entertainment centre, all of this year's festival will be held under one roof. As festival co-ordinator Ron Robert explained, the decision to move the awards back to SkyDome was a question of logistics because, while the Casino was technically a better location for the awards show, in the end, it's simpler to have all parts of the festival at the same location.

Sadie Buck, who produced and directed last year's awards show, is back at the helm, but that doesn't mean this year's show will look like last year's production, Robert said.

"The format is changing. She's looking at more storytelling, story weaving throughout the whole show. I think it's going to be quite unique, actually."

Festival goers will also get a chance to be entertained at a music tent set up on the festival site, as well as at another new feature, a performers tent where contemporary dancers, theatrical and spoken word performers, musicians and other entertainers will demonstrate their crafts.

Another new addition is an adult education component, which will complement the festival's education day activities aimed at elementary school children.

"Basically, we do education day with the children on the Friday, and it's all elementary school. So we decided we would offer it in the afternoon for post-secondary and secondary schools, as well as adult groups," Robert said. "And what we do is a teaching circle with them, and teach them about various aspects of Aboriginal things."

The adult education component was added in response to requests from high school teachers and seniors groups who liked the education day program offered to the younger students and wanted a similar program they could take part in. Both education day components will run on Nov. 29.

Another festival feature returning this year is an economic development conference. The focus of this year's two-day conference, being held Nov. 28 and 29, will be on building Aboriginal cultural industries.

The Canadian Aboriginal Festival has continued to grow over the years, with more and more content being added, Robert explained.

"It's now the largest, multi-disciplined Aboriginal arts event in North America. And there are so many things in it now. And it's the community, basically, saying this is what they want . . . so it's community-driven, basically."

As always, the powwow will play a major part in this year's festival, with almost 1,000 dancers and drum groups from across North America expected to take part. There will be three grand entries at this year's powwow, in honor of Canadian peacekeepers, and peacekeepers from other parts of the world.

Other returning events include a film festival, fine arts exhibit, demonstrations by traditional artists, fashion shows by some of Canada's top Aboriginal designers, and a lacrosse skills competition for amateur players.

A market place will also be set up again this year, giving festival goers a chance to buy Aboriginal art, crafts and traditional foods. The marketplace will also feature information displays about Aboriginal communities and issues.

A traditional teachings component will be part of the festival, giving people a chance to meet and listen to First Nations Elders and healers.

For more information about the Canadian Aboriginal Festival, or to pre-register for the education day activities, call the festival office at 519-751-0040. More information can also be fond on the festival Web site at www.canab.com.