Second year of Solstice fest expands stage, extends run

The Solstice on the South Saskatchewan festival aims to help develop and improve relations between Indigenous and non-indigenous people through music, art, and sharing culture.

“The festival is the tip of the iceberg. What we’re trying to create is a community,” said Brandon Brown, director of the festival.

The idea for the festival came when a friend mentioned to Brown that he would love to bring a music festival to a reserve, because the worst parts of European culture, like gangs and hard drugs, seem to make it out to the reserve, but not a lot of the good things, like music and festival culture.

“(It’s) trying to get us all together in one place and dance with the idea that we’re going there to get along,” he said.

The festival came together in a short time last year; 2018’s event will be the second.

“We just kind of made it happen in about six weeks last year,” Brown said.

This year, with more time to prepare, organizers were able to further develop the festival, including having a bigger stage and adding an extra night, he said, adding “people seem to be really getting on board with the message.”

Dallas Kyle Sutherland became involved with the festival through his work helping teach art to youth. Last year, he said he would check it out — and ended up doing some face painting at the festival, which he will do again this year.

“It’s a more fun and safer way to go out and have fun,” he said. “Everybody’s respectful to one another. It’s a safe environment.”

Sutherland said his favourite parts of the festival are the music, the people, and the laughter.

The Solstice on the South Saskatchewan festival starts June 21 and continues until June 24 on the One Arrow First Nation Rodeo Grounds, near Rosthern.

Together in one place and dance with the idea that we’re going there to get along.