Kanata Festival is a 13-day celebration of Indigenous culture from across Canada that includes workshops, events, food, live music, art and more. The festival runs from June 19 to July 1 on the traditional unceded territory of the Coast Salish people and aims to amplify indigenous voices during the Canada 150 celebrations. The festival programming is packed with entertainment and activities that provide a platform for authentic traditions to shine.
Experience heritage, community and culture with Canada’s First People. There are still plenty of incredible events to catch during Kanata’s final week, so be sure to visit KanataFestival.com for more information, or check out Do604’s full guide to Kanata Festival HERE.
Photo from Kanata Festival opening day.
1. Medicine Pouch Making with Renae Morriseau (Free)
The four medicines utilized for offerings within a smudging ceremony (a burning of the medicine to bath oneself within the smoke), are usually sweetgrass, Sage, Tobacco and cedar. However, once you make your bag you can choose to put within it whatever is sacred to you. This two hour session will educate participants on smudging, ceremonial use of the four sacred medicines, and protecting Mother Earth.
2. June 28: Snotty Nose Rez Kids at Larwill Park (Free)
“We will always be the snot nosed kids from the rez and that’s what makes us beautiful.”
Snotty Nose Rez Kids are known for their empowering and “rough around the edges” approach to rap and hip-hop, which celebrates First Nations culture and works to dismantle the hateful stereotypes that surround it.
3. June 28: Caribou Tufting Workshop at Larwill Park (Free)
Participant will learn how to make Caribou tufts and sew them onto a canvas to make beautiful designs. Workshop lead by Tahltan artist Ts?ma Igharas.
Photo from Kanata Festival opening day.
4. June 30: Empowering the Family Painting Workshop at Larwill Park (Free)
Anishinaabe artist Sharifah Marsden will provide beautiful images and designs symbolic of family and relationships, which participants can then paint and can color as they choose throughout the workshop.
Photo from Kanata Festival opening day.
5. June 30: Norine Braun at Larwill Park (Free)
Emotional, heartfelt and eclectic: Vancouver based singer-songwriter Norine Braun is an award-winning artist knowing for rich textures of worldly pop, jazz & blues. To The Spirits, her new concept album, tells the story of a 19th century Two Spirit Ktunaxa warrior woman and oracle.
6. July 1: DJ Kookum at Larwill Park (Free)
DJ Kookum (Cheyanna Kootenhayoo) is a Denesuline, Cree, and Nakota Sioux DJ and filmmaker who spins everything from EDM and trap to moombaton, hip hop, rap, and R&B.
Kanata Festival takes place on the traditional unceded territory of the Coast Salish people, in Larwill Park, bounded by Cambie and Beatty streets and Georgia and Dunsmuir streets in downtown Vancouver.
All Larwill Park performances are free. Visit KanataFestival.com for more information.
Photo from Kanata Festival opening day.
