Staff and students at Lakes District Secondary School (LDSS) have been working hard to bring the second Indigenous Festival of the Arts to the LDSS main stage on March 14, 2013. The first festival, in 2011 was hugely popular in Burns Lake, and organizers are hoping for a repeat this year.
Burns Lake has a large First Nations population and the student body at LDSS reflects the community-at-large.
James Hannigan, LDSS Vice-Principal and one of several organizers, said that the festival was conceived as a way to acknowledge and celebrate the First Nation perspective in Burns Lake.
“It gives people a chance to express their passions and talents in a caring and supportive environment,” he said. “We celebrate our differences and how we all work together as one community.”
The festival is a two-part one-day event with afternoon performances for LDSS students only and then an early evening performance for the public. The evening’s event will start with an art show curated by Terrace’s Laura McGregor featuring First Nations art from Dean Heron, Jared Lutchman, Lyle Mack and LDSS students.
The College of New Caledonia’s culinary arts program has donated appetizers for the evening and they will be served at the art show opening.
Spencer Greening and Jeremy Pahl, student performers from the first festival, will host the evening show.
The two headliners, George Leach and Kasp Sawan will appeal to a wide range of listeners. Leach is multi-award winning rhythm and blues musician from the Lilliooet Sta’atl’imx First Nation. Sawan is a Cree hip-hop artist who was born in Prince George. Both musicians keep their indigenous heritage out front in their art and performances.
“The focus is on First Nations to provide role-modelling to our First Nations students,” said Rayanne Charlie, LDSS Drama Teacher. “We want them to see that there are professionals out there doing this and they can too.”
Local singers and performers will be part of the evening as well. Stacy Reynolds, a Stelako musician will play a set. Tyler Sam, an LDSS student, will provide some comic relief. The LDSS dancers, who must be getting very comfortable being on stage after two recent performances, will also perform.
Organizers are hoping for a good turn-out again this year.
“In order to see the festival continue it has to pay for itself,” Charlie said.