There’s something for everyone at the virtual Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival
Marvel at intricate Indigenous dance styles during a powwow. Add curried caribou to your repertoire by taking a culinary workshop with chef Trudy Metcalfecoe. Gather the little ones in your family to hear Sunshine Tenasco read her book Nibi’s Water Song. These and many other events are just a click away from June 1 to 21 as the annual Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival (SSIF) goes virtual for a second year in a row and welcomes Rio Tinto as festival presenting sponsor.
“Having something for everyone is what we try to accomplish every year during our live events,” says Trina Mathersimard, executive director of Indigenous Experiences and producer of the festival. “So, when we decided to pivot to a virtual format to adhere to COVID-19 guidelines, we literally went through every age group and audience to see how every member of the household could participate.”
The result is a holistic arts festival that brings together Indigenous artists, performers, educators, students and community members to share knowledge and to celebrate Canada’s diverse Indigenous cultures.
For example, Education Days — presented by BMO Financial Group and for which 42,000 people across Canada have already signed up — feature workshops designed for students, teachers and parents who are homeschooling. Of course, everyone is welcome to register. Culinary workshops (sponsored by TD Bank Group and Indigenous Tourism Ontario) are an interactive opportunity to cook along with Indigenous chefs.
During creation workshops, participants can follow along with artists to make items such as keychains and hand drums. And for an even more immersive and interactive experience, the workshops, which are pre-recorded, will premier on Youtube and Facebook with the artists and chefs participating in the live chatrooms.
“When you register to participate in the culinary and creation workshops, you get make-at-home DIY kits with everything you need,” says Mather-simard. “Another very popular interactive element is our International Virtual Pow Wow Competition, co-sponsored by CN Rail and Canadian Deposit Insurance Corporation. There is $30,000 to be won, with viewers getting the chance to vote for their favourite dancers, who will showcase dances and landscapes from across North America. We have expanded the powwow to include competitors introducing themselves as well as offering more background on the dance styles.”
New to this year’s festivities are the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards (SSIMAS). Presented by TD Bank Group, the awards feature Indigenous solo artists, duos and groups from across Canada nominated in 18 categories. The SSIMAS will stream live on June 12 from Ottawa’s National Arts Centre. The evening will include the presentation of awards to the winners as well as live performances from nominees.
As SSIF’S virtual format reaches a wider audience (last year about 527,000 people tuned in), Mather-simard says those in Ottawa will have a few unique opportunities to participate at socially distanced in-person events. On June 15, RBC presents the first drivein movie, Kayak to Klemtu, to take place at beautiful Wesley Clover Parks. On June 21, Ottawans will be able to enjoy a National Indigenous Peoples Day drive-in concert and cultural showcase featuring select SSIMA nominees, again at Wesley Clover Parks. It is being presented by OLG.
“We have gotten a lot of feedback about how incredible SSIF is from people all over the world who were not able to previously attend,” says Mather-simard. “We were fortunate to have corporate partners who believed in the vision. For example, we have Rio Tinto as a new main festival presenting sponsor and Green Shield Canada is a new program sponsor for our Celebration Stage. With all of our sponsors’ continued support, we hope to find a way to produce virtual and in-person programming in the future.”
While the festival officially kicks off June 1, one element of the festivities is already accessible. Indigenous Marketplace is a platform that celebrates Indigenous culture and language, artists, and their heritage. It’s presented by Export Development Canada, along with its co-producer, Indigenous Tourism Ontario. By offering diverse Indigenous products, jewelry, food items, artworks, CDS from SSIMA nominees and more, Indigenous Marketplace supports First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artisans impacted by the economic fallout from the pandemic.
SSIF is produced by Indigenous Experiences on behalf of the National Indigenous Peoples Day Committee (NIPD) comprising the six organizations representing Indigenous communities across Canada: Assembly of First Nations (AFN); Congress of Aboriginal Peoples (CAP); National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC); Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK); Native Women’s Association of Canada (NWAC); and Crown-indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC).
Jocelyn Formsma is the executive director of NAFC, this year’s SSIF co-host. She says the festival’s impact and ability to pivot online cannot be understated.
“We are proud of the ways in which we have come together in these times of hardship,” she says. “I believe that it is also an opportunity to share our activities with a broader audience.”
Adds Mather-simard, “I’m looking forward to being able to reconnect with this new audience that we built and reached virtually.”