Abbotsford Arts Council

Our Children's Tent will be Featuring Tori Michelle Carter who will be offering face-painting for a small fee 

Tori Michelle Carter is a Canadian artist inspired by passion, realism, and her surroundings. Tori uses many mediums; from body and face painting, to window painting , logos, and murals. She creates hand painted crystal wine glasses, and glassware as well as hand painted clothing, accessories, album covers, and portraits.

To view her current gallery, visit www.customartinked.com  

Nations Creations 

(click image to go to their website)

Metis Informational Table presented by 

Rene Inkster 

Sto:lo Community Futures 

(click on image for webpage)

T'it'elem Spath (Eddie Gardner)

Eddie graduated from the University of Prince Edward Island with a Bachelor of Arts in 1972.  A member of the Skwah First Nation, he works with others in the community to identify and address environmental issues and the protection of wild salmon. He is also

committed to the revival of the Halq'eméylem language, he has gained intermediate fluency of the language and encourages others to do so too.  Through his monthly sweat lodge ceremonies and Medicine Wheel workshops, Eddie spreads his knowledge of Stó:lo culture and traditions to the UFV community and beyond.

Rene Inkster 

Born into a distinguished prairies Métis family, Rene Inkster has devoted her life to social justice, equality, and education. As a child and youth she advocated for children’s and women’s rights, and as a single parent, she strove for workplace equality for women. She put herself through university while raising a family so as to work in education. Retired from direct teaching today, she is an Indigenous education program developer and international conference speaker, working to integrate First Peoples studies into classrooms. She is recognized internationally as an Indigenous Elder. For many years she has been involved in advocacy for recognition of Native rights, and on recognition of the Métis as one of Canada’s founding cultures. 

Matsqui Youth Drum Group 

We are a relatively new group who have been working with Darren Charlie over the past couple years to not only learn our songs but also the importance of the drums in our culture. We range in ages of 18months - to 20 years old.

This group will open the center stage with Darren Charlie with "The Welcome Song", "The Matsqui Song" and "The Salmon Song". 

Ms. Lynn Kay Peters

(Ringing Bell Robes)

fashion designs will be featured in our Boutique. We will have the dress that Mrs. Universe /Russia wore during the pageant which was made by locally here in Hope, BC.

EAGLE CHILD - Saddle Lake Cree Nation - your presence will not be forgotten by us...

It is with great sadness that we lost Eagle Child this past January.   Last years event Eagle Child played his flute and spoke his healing words which brought a range of emotions from our spectators. While he was perfoming a bald eagle was spotted soaring above us, being from the baldeagle clan that is a very spiritual sign.  This year we will be honoring his memory with a memorial dedication for him during our center stage performance.  Myrna Child (Eagle Child wife) will be in attendance and will also have a table at our artist row selling his CD's and jewellery.  Please if you have a chance drop by her table and pay your respects. 

 Meegawich Tery Kozma 

Raphael Silver - Sumas Nation 

Artist-in-Residence Raphael Silver grew up in Sumas Nation and has been a life-long Abbotsford resident ever since. When he was a boy, his father, Ray Silver, taught him how to carve, which he has been doing for the past twenty years. Not only does he carve wood, but he is an artist who works in a variety of mediums- metal, glass, acrylic on canvas, and tattoos. 

His work can be seen around the Fraser Valley, notably at several schools such as Yarrow, Bakerview Elementary, Abby Middle, and Yale Secondary schools, as well as the McCallum Roundabout and the three house posts at Fraser Heritage Park in Mission.