The 18th Talking Stick Festival, presented by Full Circle: First Nations Performance opens today. The celebration of Indigenous culture through the arts runs until March 2nd at various Vancouver venues.
Margo Kane, Artistic Managing Director of Full Circle: First Nations Performance says, “Our 2019 Talking Stick Festival is an open invitation to Explore Indigenous Culture through the Arts and we welcome back some of our favourite artists and companies who are developing international and national reputations of their own.”
Speaking about the range of works audiences can expect from the 2019 festival, Kane adds, “This festival of extraordinary Indigenous performance and art features some of the best emerging and established Indigenous artists Turtle Island has to offer. It provides a stage for artists from a variety of artistic expressions – theatre, storytelling, writing, music, spoken word, dance, and visual arts. It celebrates the traditional performance of many communities, as well as the contemporary and interdisciplinary work of Indigenous creators.”
Highlights from the 2019 Talking Stick Festival include:
Children of God by Corey Payette (an Urban Ink production, co-presented with The Cultch), a musical story of redemption for a family overcoming the history of residential schools, playing February 20 – March 10, 2019 at York Theatre
Wax hoks en Shqalawin (Open Your Hearts) Opening Gala, a evening of music and dance on February 21 at Roundhouse Community Centre, kicking off the Visual Arts Exhibit on view at the Roundhouse Community Centre throughout the festival run.
Indian Acts: Staged Readings Series features play readings of new works from Kevin Loring, Tai Amy Grauman, Taran Kootenhayoo, Lisa C. Ravensbergen, and Margo Kane
Muyuntsut ta Slulum (Immerse Yourself in Music), a musicseries featuring Snotty Nose Rez Kids with DJ Kookum, Emily Wurramara, and DJ O Show performing throughout the run of the festival.
Reel Reservations Film Series screening of SGaawaay K’uuna Edge of the Knife (2018 Best Canadian Feature – Vancouver Film Critics Circle), Falls Around Here and Anori (Wind)
Knowledge Sharing events for public and artists run throughout the festival
2-Spirit Series that includes Looking for Tiger Lily from Anthony Hudon (the human vessel for Portland’s premiere drag clown Carla Rossi).
Family-friendly shows Nanabush Stories, Tee Pee Theatre, and Celebration of Dance are Pay-What-You-Can events for all-ages
Festival Closing Night Celebration: Ab-Original Cabaret, a celebration full of music, comedy, theatre, song, and spoken word from the brightest Indigenous talent March 2 at The Ironworks Studios.
For full details of the Talking Stick Festival, including venues and tickets, at talkingstickfest.ca