• Lots of free giveaways
• Coloring Station
• Games
• Face-painting
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
Metis Informational Table presented by
Rene Inkster
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.
White Thunder Dance Theatre featuring Garry Abbott -
Hoop Dancer
White Thunder Dance Theatre was started in 1995 to help promote our culture within our own culture and with all cultures. We have traveled and performed all over North America. Our theatre is made up of dancers from all over BC, we are based in Chilliwack, BC.
What is Hoop Dancing?
Hoop Dance: This dance comes from the Navajo people, it is a story dance. Each of us have our own story, this is the story of life. You need to use your imagination to see all the forms that are made with the 16 hoops. You will see the wind, the rain, the nest, the sun and the moon.
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.
Makayla Goldsmith - Ojibwa/Metis St.James Manitoba.
Makayla Goldsmith is a 17 year old Metis Jigger from Langley, BC. She is also a Pow Wow Dancer, dancing Fancy Shawl and more recently has started to learn Jingle.
She began Powder Wow dancing when she was 11 years old learning under the tutelage of Leslee Picton and then started learning Metis Jigging from Lisa Sheppard when she was 13.
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.
Valarie Davidson
Returning for her 2nd year with us! Inspired by First Nations Ojibwa ancestors to create beadwork & custom Jewellery. Her work is currently in Kariton Art Gallery, Abbotsford. BC. She has been featured at Klahowya Village in Stanley Park.& Ruby Creek Art Gallery Sea Bird Island , Agassiz BC
(click on image to go to her facebook page)
Shy Watters -
Joe Calder
Returning once again to us this year! Joe enjoys to create wood carvings as well as silver and gold jewellery. Joe has recently started to do bead work but prefers to do that at home to pass the time away.
Michelle Jacobs -
Mohawk of Akwesasne. Michelle was born in Minnesota, and her family moved to BC when she was very young. Creating beautiful things has always been an important part of her life. Michelle enjoys a variety of artwork, including beadwork, pen and ink, carving and painting. She is primarily self taught, taking influence from her First Nations heritage.
Darren Charlie, also known as Qwetoselten, is a well-known drum maker from the Sts’ailes Indian Band. He owns and operates Sasquatch Drums and Sasquatch Tours & Cultural Presentations.
Darren has more than 30 years of drum making experience; he was taught by elders from the Sts’ailes community.
Pauline Johnson
Cree Nation
We are pleased to announce that Pauline will be returning once agin this year to our Artist Row: She will be doing dream catchers for the public to view and will have her necklaces, dream catchers and earrings for sale.
Crystal Chapman
Skawahlook First Nation
Traditional weaving is a dying art which I am bringing back and keeping it alive as there are not many cedar weavers in the Sto:lo Nation. Weaving has allowed me to become more focused patient person, and allows me to create what people admire and treasure. "Many things give me inspiration to create"