Talking Stick Festival just around the corner

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The stage is set for Aboriginal artists to share and celebrate their talents and energy during the seven day Talking Sick Festival in Vancouver. From Feb. 5 to 11, spectators will watch as more than100 emerging and established Aboriginal artists perform at seven venues during the sixth annual festival hosted by Full Circle: First Nations Performance.

The festival provides an opportunity for performing artists, visual artists and writers to showcase their work.

"It gives the community a chance to come and see a variety of offerings that our Aboriginal performers and artists are doing," said Margo Kane, founder and artistic and managing director of Full Circle.

Kane will serve as master of ceremonies for the opening of the festival at the Roundhouse Community Arts & Recreation Centre on Feb. 5. As a taste of what to expect in the week to come, the evening will showcase the talents of the Full Circle Ensemble, Compaigni V'ni Dansi, Delemi Daheed, the Children of the Rainbow Drum Group, Sandy Scofield and Richard Van Camp, with a possible performance by Kinnie Starr.

In the afternoon of Feb. 6, festival participants are invited to attend the Drums and Voices: Intercultural Choral and Drumming Workshop, where Russell Wallace, Nathan Hesselink, Linda Hoffman and other featured artists will come together to create an intercultural music piece that will be performed later that evening.

The program for Feb. 7 will feature three events involving Aboriginal authors sharing stories, plays, poetry and children's literature. Some of the featured artists will include Joseph Boyden, Byron Chief Moon and Maria Campbell.

The lineup for Feb. 8 will feature traditional singing, drumming, dance, storytelling, performance art, visual art and hip hop fusion. A showcase feature is planned at the Roundhouse Centre from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., with Fusion2 Remix and the Full Circle Ensemble solo performances.

According to Kane, Full Circle was founded to create new work and opportunities for Aboriginal artists, writers and performers to share contemporary artistic practices with audiences from all backgrounds.

"I don't believe art is entertainment. My concern is the growth of our community," said Kane. "We need to recognize the contributions that our artists make to the community. In order for that to happen, the community has to see our artists work and that's not always so easy to do. So, Full Circle attempts to bring those various communities together so they can share."

Kane believes artists who are inspirational, entertaining and thought provoking contribute to a vital community.

"We try to give the artist a platform to present their work."

For more information about the festival go to www.fullcircle.ca.