National Aboriginal Day
In partnership with the Wachiay Friendship Centre and K’omoks First Nation, Vancouver Island MusicFest is presenting live entertainment at this year’s National Aboriginal Day Celebration at the K’omoks Band Hall and Grounds on June 21st from 11:00 am till 5pm.
This day-long celebration of cultural exchange is free and open to the community. Come down to the beautiful grounds and enjoy an all day barbq with delicious food, craft vendors, guest artists at the I-Hos Gallery, kids activities, an art show and exciting performers from home and far away!
“We’re extremely excited about partnering with MusicFest,” says Wachiay Executive Director Wedlidi Speck. “They are a great addition to our event, and we look forward to the performers that they’ll be bringing.”
For this special National Aboriginal Day event, Vancouver Island MusicFest is pleased to welcome performers Anela Kahiamoe, Shayne Stuchbery, Richelle Andre, The Kumugwe Dancers, Cultural Dancers and special guest musician and Canadian Aboriginal Music Award nominee Shawn Bernard!
Anela Kahiamoe was born and raised in Hawaii on the island of Oahu and has worked and played as a studio musician, producer, performer and songwriter for over 30 years. Anela has worked with many of the top singers in Hawaii, Japan and the Far East spreading Hawaiian music and hula. Fortunate enough to marry a Canadian in 2004, he currently resides in the beautiful Comox Valley.
Shawn Bernard (FEENIX) grew up in the worst neighborhoods of Edmonton, Alberta surrounded by drugs and prostitution. He lost both his parents to drugs at a young age and grew up in the inner city living the street life. He began rapping at house parties and later founded a rap group that evolved into a high profile native gang. He began selling and using drugs and got into the high-risk lifestyle of gangs, crime, drug dealing and incarceration. While locked up and facing years in jail, the drug death of his sister and the apprehension of his kids caused him to reach a breaking point. He vowed to turn his life around.
Shawn visits schools and communities all across Canada spreading the message that high- risk lifestyles, drugs, alcohol and especially gangs are a literal dead end.
Richelle Andre is originally from Saskatoon, SK. She has played Ness Creek Music Festival, Flat Lands Music Festival, 25th Street Theatre Women’s Festival, many Fringe Festivals as well as various local venues of the communities in which she has lived and visited. Her heartfelt voice soothes and delights listeners.
The Kumugwe Dancers take great pride in preserving the ancient traditions of their ancestors. Through sharing the songs and dances of the K’omoks and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, the Kumugwe Dancers feel that they are able to help facilitate respect and understanding within the local community and communities abroad. Taking their name from the traditional Big House that sits within the heart of the K’omoks First Nation, members of the dance troupe have been practicing and performing together since 2001. The Kumugwe Dancers feel that by encouraging young members of their community to learn the ancient songs and dances of their people, they will ensure the survival of the culture for generations to come.
A special treat in this full day of cultural exchange will be a traditional dance and music performance from Korea featuring the Kayakum (a Korean traditional stringed instrument).
Stage Schedule – June 21st
11:00 – non denominational spiritual service- Wedlidi
11:25 official welcome from the K’omoks First Nation – Barb Mitchell
11:30 – 11:55 – Kumugwe Dancers
12:00-12:30 – Korean Dance/Music
12:35-1:15- Anela Kahiamoe
1:15-1:30 – Youth Drum Presentation
1:35-2:05 – Richelle Andre – singer songwriter
2:10-2:25 – Dance Performance
2:30 – 3:15 Shayne Stuchbery
3:20-4:30 – Shawn Bernard aka Feenix
4:30-4:45 Choir Closing Event
