The Chan Centre for Performing Arts at UBC, in collaboration with Musqueam present Come Toward the Fire, September 17-18. The new festival is a Indigenous-led celebration of creativity, brilliance, culture and community leading up to this year’s Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
A mix of free and ticketed events, the two-day gathering showcases the voices of Indigenous artists, performers, musicians, speakers, and dance groups from Musqueam and from Indigenous nations across Turtle Island.
The Saturday and Sunday Afternoon Daytime Program is filled with accessible, family-friendly outdoor activities including;
Indigenous vendors and food trucks; Pattern Nation, Decolonial Clothing Co, Rbrth, Sisters Sage, Native by Nature, Iron Dog Books, Mr. Bannock, Bannock Busters, Na Mi Vietnamese, Up the River Bakery
Performances, hosted by Two-Spirit Cree musician and drag performer Quanah Style, beginning at 1pm.
Artists taking the stage on Saturday include: Julian Taylor Trio, PIQSIQ, Indigenous Enterprise, Miss Christie Lee & Lady Sinncere, Carsen Gray, Russell Wallace: Tillicum Shantie Project, DJ O Show, Sekawnee & Sekoya Baker, Tsatsu Stalqayu / Coastal Wolf Pack
The nearby UBC Museum of Anthropology will host Musqueam Teachings, family workshops from 11:00AM-1:30PM (Free with museum admission)
The Helen & Morris Belkin Art Gallery’s Outdoor Screen presents Stories from Musqueam, a free short film and video series featuring the work and words of Musqueam artists, cultural knowledge keepers and community members, screening non-stop between 9am and 9pm.
Saturday evening at 7pm in the Chan Shun Concert Hall, Musqueam creator, actor, and playwright Quelemia Sparrow hosts the festival-style Come Toward the Fire evening concert featuring ten artists and two dance groups from across the continent.
Sunday evening, the incomparable Buffy Sainte-Marie, takes the Concert Hall stage. The Indigenous Canadian-American singer-songwriter, musician, Oscar-winning composer, visual artist, educator, pacifist, and social activist will pull from her five-decade career to bring Come Towards the Fire to an end.
Tickets are required for both evening concerts, available for each performance or as a two-day bundle on chancentre.com