June is Indigenous History Month, and 2021 marks the 25th anniversary of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in Canada. Celebrate, learn, share, and come together with these free, family-friendly virtual events.
1) Edmonton Indigenous Peoples Festival | June 19
This year’s Indigenous Peoples Festival is being held online! Tune in through Facebook for live music, dance, and cultural performances by artists including Curt Young, Shawn “Feenix” Bernard, Kaeley Jade, and more. The festival will also feature special guests, including the Edmonton Oilers’ Ethan Bear.
2) I A M – Indigenous Artist Market Collective | June 19
Join the I A M – Indigenous Artist Market Collective as they celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day at the Edmonton Downtown Farmers Market! Catch live performances from Chubby Cree, Lena Daniels Music, Zachary Willier, Melody McArthur Music, and more, as well as live street art with Lance Cardinal. Free door prize draws take place every hour, and three gift baskets jam-packed with locally-made art are up for grabs with their fundraiser raffle!
3) Floral Fish Scale Art with MJ Belcourt | June 19
Métis artist, educator and curator MJ Belcourt will show you how to make beautiful, traditional fish scale art in this free virtual workshop. A limited number of supply kits are available for those who register early; you can register online through the Strathcona County Recreation website.
4) Métis Jigging with Felice Gladue | June 19
Get active and celebrate as you learn the Métis Jig with this virtual class led by Felice Gladue! Dance along to live fiddle accompaniment and learn more about the rich history and culture of the Métis people. The class will be hosted over Microsoft Teams; register online by June 18th to book your spot.
5) Bannock Making and Feast | June 21
Join the C5 Hub and Elder Kokum Rose Wabasca for a family-friendly virtual bannock-making workshop! The first 100 families to register for the event will receive all of their ingredients prior to the workshop.
6) Treaty Talk: Sharing the River of Life | June 21
Treaty Talk: Sharing the River of Life is a 50-minute film exploring how Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada can work to combat systemic injustices and build an equitable future for all. This film screening and discussion will feature Dr. Pat Makokis, Dr. Diana Steinhauer and Knowledge Keeper Lloyd Cardinal. You can register for the screening through the Strathcona County Recreation website.
7) Ancestors & Elders Television Broadcast | June 21
This collaborative performance featuring the Ukrainian Shumka Dancers and multidisciplinary Indigenous artists invites audiences to explore reconciliation, understanding, and diversity through the medium of dance. A filmed version of Ancestors & Elders will be broadcast on June 21 in honour of Indigenous Peoples Day: catch the performance on OMNI 1 on at 1 pm and OMNI Alberta at 3 pm.
