Celebrating Indigenous tradition at inagural Pellsqepts Spring Winds Music Pageant – Okanagan

On the sting of Shuswap Lake, the inaugural Pellsqepts Spring Winds Music Pageant is buzzing with lots of of individuals celebrating Indigenous tradition.

The someday music and artwork competition is in partnership with the Salmon Arm People Music Society and is open to all ages and anybody who needs to attend.

“We’re right here for the Pellsqepts gathering celebration of Indigenous music,” stated Cstélnec Tk’wemi’ple7 (Adams Lake Councillor) Xwe’xena (Joyce Kenoras).

“We’ve invited all our neighbours, mates and group members to be right here with us.”

Not solely was there stay music and artwork but in addition distributors, bannock, ice cream and extra to get pleasure from.

Kenthen Thomas, the indigenous and youth coordinator of the Salmon Arm People Music Society says that festivals like this are an necessary a part of Reality and Reconciliation.

“With the age of Reality and Reconciliation a whole lot of instances the reality is bitter and ugly and we have to undergo that bitter and ugliness however we’re resilient individuals we went via Indian Residential Faculties, the discovering of the kids,” stated Thomas.

“However, there are occasions we have to have a good time too, we have to snigger and smile and be collectively.”

Swelacken (Howard Shields) is performing with a bunch of  Stʼatʼimc Bear Dancers which are a part of revitalizing a ceremony that he says was misplaced for many years.

“I’m a standard bear dancer from the Stʼatʼimc nation,” stated Swelacken

“The Bear Dance is a standard ceremony, a therapeutic and safety ceremony. It was put away for a lot of a few years due to the Potlatch legal guidelines and the Catholic church not permitting us to do our conventional ceremonies. So it was put away for most likely generations and so it’s inside most likely the final 10 years that it’s come again.”

Dancing as a household Bernice Jensen retains her custom and tradition robust by performing collectively as All My Relations First Nations Dance Group.

“All My Relations First Nations Dance Group is a household group, we’re based mostly out of the Okanagan and Secwepemc Territories,” stated Jensen.

“We actually have our household dancing, my sisters, my sons, my daughters, my nephews, nieces, the grandchildren are dancing now.”

Although the Indigenous Music Pageant ends when the solar units, organizers hope it should stay a part of the group for years to return.