This year, we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Talking Stick Festival virtually! Although COVID regulations prevent us from hosting events and gatherings live, we can still showcase our performances and event online. We hope you will join us in the celebration from the comfort of your home. Watch and enjoy. Stay safe!
Talking Stick Festival Full Schedule
The below schedule has all information on how to view the shows.
To view the schedule, click on the table and scroll down
When you register for an event, you will receive an email with the instruction on how to virtually attend it. We are currently in the process of updating the website with the links. Some of the events are being hosted live, or through Youtube, or Zoom; these links will also be posted in the below schedule.
Event Name | Event date | When to watch the Event? (PST) | Event Description | What kind of Event it is? | How to watch the Event? | Artist(s)/ Speaker(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2Spirit Social: An IndigiQueer Drop-In Art Circle | February 17, 2021 | 4 pm — 5pm | Gather around Shane’s virtual table for sharing art, stories, knowledge and support. Just like at Auntie’s house, the best adventures come from being together. Bring your latest project, a doodle, beadwork, or anything else to work on while we chat. Maybe Auntie will share a story or teach you to make some tea. You’re invited to talk about your art-making process, lead a short skills share, and just enjoy being together. This event is only for indigenous people, please send an email to Shane with an introduction. | Talk | Email shane@queerartsfestival.com with an introduction to register. | Shane Sable |
Biidaaban: a Sonic Call to the Future | February 18–27, 2021 | Dawn | An 8:30 minute sunrise ceremony, completed on the land at dawn, each day. Listeners are invited to consider what Medicine they carry as a gift to our future. | Performance-Ceremony Sound Work | Lisa C. Ravensbergen | |
A Gathering of Hearts & Spirit — 20th Anniversary Gala of Talking Stick Festival | February 18, 2021 | 6 pm | The Talking Stick Festival’s opening gala comes to your homes virtually featuring performances by M’Girl, Ostwelve, Russell Wallace, and Wayne Lavallee. | Dance, Music, Poetry, Traditional | M’Girl Ostwelve Tzokam with Russell Wallace Wayne Lavallee Eagle Song Dancers Nyla Carpentier Chief Ian Campbell (host) Amanda Nahanee (host) | |
Memory, Marrow, and Matriarchs **PRE-RECORDED** | February 19, 2021 | 10 am — 11:15 am | This conversation honours the work Indigenous women have done to carry legacy and vision for artistic communities. It also calls us to reciprocal and collective action as artistic Future-Keepers. (Zoom-generated captions will be provided, and a transcript will be available after the event.) | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Jeannette Armstrong Margo Kane hosted by France Trepanier | |
Protocols of Kinship and Care | February 19, 2021 | 2 pm — 4:30pm | How traditional teachings and Contemporary Therapy protocols and language can ground our conflict and care along productive, respectful and meaningful paths towards Right Relations. (Zoom-generated captions will be provided, and a transcript will be available after the event.) | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Margo Kane Dennis Joseph Mahara Allbrett hosted by Chris Reed | |
Rez Bluez (Virtual) | February 19, 2021 | 5 pm — 6:30 pm | You’ll hear some of the most powerful, soulful voices, guitar grooves and foot-stompin’ piano, that are all deeply rooted in the blues. | Music Virtual | Pura Fé’s (Tuscarora/Taino) Crystal Shawanda (Anishinabe) Murray Porter (Mohawk) Art Napoleon (Cree) Clyde Roulette (Anishinabe) | |
In The Beginning—A Cultural Sharing **PRE-RECORDED** | February 20, 2021 | 10:30 am — 12pm | Origin stories re-told from the three Host Nations and Relations from Upriver in 4 separate recordings. Originally produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre and is presented at Talking Stick Festival in partnership with them. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | From the Waters: (In Memoriam) Woody Morrison, Ronnie Dean Harris, Kat Norris hosted by Kim Haxton | |
Indigenous Dance Talking Circle | February 20, 2021 | 3 pm ‑5 pm | An invitation to the international Indigenous dance community to circle together and offer our thoughts and dreams to our ancestors during these unprecedented times. This session is closed and will require registration. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Special guests Louise Potiki Bryant and Olivia Davies hosted by Starr Muranko | |
The Rez Bluez Workshop | February 20, 2021 | 5 pm — 6:30 pm | The Rez Bluez workshop explores the hidden history and musical relationship of Indigenous peoples and the evolution of the blues. Each Artist will discuss their ‘Blues Journey’ and perform one song that honours the Indigenous experience, as told thru their bluez. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Murray Porter Pura Fe Crystal Shawanda Art Napoleon hosted by Elaine Bomberry | |
In The Beginning—A Cultural Sharing **PRE-RECORDED** | February 21, 2021 | 10:30 am ‑12 pm | Origin stories re-told from the three Host Nations and Relations from Upriver in 4 separate recordings. Originally produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre and is presented at TalkingStick Festival in partnership with them. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Musqueam—People of the River Grass: Quelemia Sparrow and Christie Lee Charles hosted by Kim Haxton. | |
Indigenous Music Reconnection | February 21, 2021 | 1 pm — 2 pm | Indigenous Music community members are invited to reconnect at this virtual roundtable. Honouring the work of musicians that have played a path for us, we will discuss ways to create in these newly uncertain times and what our community needs for growth—distanced and in-person. This session is closed and will require registration. | Industry Series Roundtable | Email: music@fullcircle.ca if you would like to attend. | Denise Bolduc Orene Askew Curtis Clearsky Jade Harper |
In the Presence of Ancestor: The “Hovering Community” | February 21, 2021 | 3 pm — 6 pm | Are we transformed virtual beings, new sky citizens of the “Hovering Community” territory of distance and proximity desire? Is this a new space to meet our ancestors, to discover spaces of ancient and future presences? Charles Koroneho respectfully acknowledges Altofest 202X for the support given in the preparation of this workshop and the offer of exchange from The Talking Stick Festival. | Industry Series Dance workshop | Charles Koroneho hosted by Jeanette Kotowich | |
Virtual Medicines — The Voices of Turtle Island Youth | February 21, 2021 | 7 pm | For more than a decade, UNYA’s Overly Creative Minds (OCM) Program has been providing space for youth to find and strengthen their voice through the arts. Virtual Medicines showcases the tremendous talent and work of emerging artists’ from the urban Indigenous community. From music to poetry, Hip-Hop and dance, come bear witness to what our youth have to say through the performing arts! | Featuring youth from the overly creative minds (OCM) program at UNYA. | ||
Legacies of Visual Sovereignty | February 23, 2021 | 10:30am-12pm | Honouring the past, present, and future efforts that have radically shift(ed) Indigenous representation and filmmaking. How Indigenous filmmakers build processes and story relationships that de-centre colonial systems of extraction and exploitation. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Alanis Obomsawin and Marie Clements hosted by Jules Koostachin | |
A Gathering of Hearts & Spirit: Reprise | February 23, 2021 | 7 pm | Catch the full length musical performances from our opening night celebration featuring: Ostwelve, Wayne Lavallee, M’Girl and Tzokam with Russell Wallace. | Music | Ostwelve Wayne Lavallee M’Girl Tzokam with Russell Wallace. | |
In The Beginning—A Cultural Sharing **PRE-RECORDED** | February 24, 2021 | 10:30 am — 12 pm | Origin stories re-told from the three Host Nations and Relations from Upriver in 4 separate recordings.Originally produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre and is presented at TalkingStick Festival in partnership with them. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Tsleil-Waututh: Leah George-Wilson and Carleen Thomas hosted by Kim Haxton. | |
Artistic Kin and Sovereign Bones **PRE-RECORDED** | February 24, 2021 | 12 pm — 1:30 pm | How do we honour sovereign recognition into our artistic practice? What are some obstacles, old protocols and new practices that ensure visibility and voice for the local rights and title holders while also ensuring reciprocity, presence, and potency for displaced/ visiting artists? | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Xwalacktun Angela George Quelemia Sparrow hosted by David Geary | |
Still. Reflect. Respond. | February 24, 2021 | 3 pm — 5:30 pm | Respected choreographers and dance artists contemplate where the dance community is in collective practice— where we’ve come from and what we carry with us as we navigate current cultural, social, and political realities. | Circle Gathering Dance | Jessica McMann Victoria Hunt Charles Koroneho Jack Gray Michelle Olson hosted by Mique’l Dangeli | |
In The Beginning—A Cultural Sharing **PRE-RECORDED** | February 25, 2021 | 10:30 am — 12 pm | Origin stories re-told from the three Host Nations and Relations from Upriver in 4 separate recordings. Originally produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre and is presented at TalkingStick Festival in partnership with them. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Squamish: Bob Baker, Wes Nahanee, Tracy Williams hosted by Kim Haxton. | |
Indigenous Resistance and Artistic Liberation | February 25, 2021 | 1 pm — 3:30 pm | Recounting past, present and future acts of artistic defiance, nation-building and space-making. How artistic liberation transforms traditional teachings into the justice-centred decolonial story our future ancestors need. Co-hosted with wîcêhtowin Theatre Program, University of Saskatchewan | Circle Gathering | Shelley Niro Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas Tara Beagan hosted by Marilyn Dumont | |
The Candy Show with Candy Palmater & Friends Special Encore Presentation | Presented by Urban Ink & The Cultch | February 25, 2021 | 7 pm — 8:40 pm | Join Indigenous comedian Candy Palmater and a few of her very talented friends for a special edition of her multiple award-winning national variety TV shows, The Candy Show—an indulgence in Canada’s best talent! originally filmed for the TRANSFORM Cabaret Festival presented by Urban Ink & The Cultch. | Theatre | Kent Monkman Elvira Kurt Jeremy Dutcher Cameron Fraser-Monroe | |
Wolf Cull by Cheyenne Scott Presented by Urban Ink | February 26, 2021 | 4 pm | Sit in on a special workshop reading of Cheyenne Scott’s play, Wolf Cull, a story of a pack of young Indigenous womxn who hunt down the mysterious creature that threatens their community. A chance to hear a new play in development, this online session will be hosted on Zoom and followed by a short question and answer period with the playwright and artists. | Workshop Reading | Actor — Samantha Brown Actor — Chanin Lee Actor — Joelle Peters Actor ‑Tara Sky Actor ‑Chelsea Rose | |
Indigenous Theatre Talking Circle | February 26, 2021 | 11 am — 1 pm | Indigenous theatre practitioners are invited into constellations of care through this gathering. The discussion will include Knowledge and Teachings from the Industry Series that can guide us in lifting one another up as artistic-relations. Co-hosted with wîcêhtowin Theatre Program, University of Saskatchewan This session is closed and will require registration. Co-hosted with wîcêhtowin Theatre Program, University of Saskatchewan This session is closed and will require registration | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Co-hosted with wîcêhtowin Theatre Program, University of Saskatchewan | |
From Talking Stick to Microphone | February 26, 2021 | 7 pm | Nyla Carpentier (Tahltan/Kaska) brings together a virtual poetic evening in honour of “East Van ghetto” poet Zaccheus Jackson Nyce (Blackfoot), the original From Talking Stick to Mic curator. | Poetry | Nyla Carpentier | |
InterSocial Nations — a Virtual Dance Party | February 27, 2021 | 7 pm — 10 pm | Join us for the closing of the winter lodge with a live stream performance featuring DJ O Show and DJ Kookum. Plus some surprise guests throughout the night. The Virtual Dance Party starts at 8 PM. Join us at 7 PM for a pre-show including special bonus content. | Dance | Jordan Waunch (host) DJ Oshow DJ Kookum Sparkle Plenty Sierra Tasi Baker, Monday Blues |
Industry Series
This series aims to transform notions of listening from consumptive and something to take-and-use into reflexive, reciprocal action. In this way, settler and ally artists, presenters and audiences are welcome and invited to re-position themselves, their work, and their allyship in this year’s circles, through deeper listening practices.
These conversations centre and privilege Indigenous artists’ voices and curiosities. This work is supported by following Witnessing protocol from the TSF’s host territory for many of the sessions.
Given that the festival is endeavouring to embrace and anticipate the multi-faceted potential of our new digital reality, we are honoured to include Speakers and Listeners from across Turtle Island and beyond its shores.
The Industry Series Schedule
The below schedule has all information on how to view the shows.
To view the schedule, click on the table and scroll down
When you register for an event, you will receive an email with the instruction on how to virtually attend it. We are currently in the process of updating the website with the registration links.
Event Name | Event date | When to watch the event? (PST) | Event Description | What kind of event it is? | How to watch the event? | Speaker(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Memory, Marrow, and Matriarchs **PRE-RECORDED** | February 19, 2021 | 10:00 am-11:15 am | This conversation honours the work Indigenous women have done to carry legacy and vision for artistic communities. It also calls us to reciprocal and collective action as artistic Future-Keepers. (Zoom-generated captions will be provided, and a transcript will be available after the event.) | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Jeannette Armstrong Margo Kane hosted by France Trepanier | |
Protocols of Kinship and Care | February 19, 2021 | 2 pm — 4:30pm | How traditional teachings and Contemporary Therapy protocols and language can ground our conflict and care along productive, respectful and meaningful paths towards Right Relations. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Margo Kane Dennis Joseph Mahara Allbrett hosted by Chris Reed | |
In The Beginning—A Cultural Sharing **PRE-RECORDED** | February 20, 2021 | 10:30 am — 12pm | Origin stories re-told from the three Host Nations and Relations from Upriver in four recordings. Originally produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre and is presented at TalkingStick Festival in partnership with them. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | From the Waters: (In Memoriam) Woody Morrison, Ronnie Dean Harris, Kat Norris hosted by Kim Haxton. | |
Indigenous Dance Talking Circle | February 20, 2021 | 3 pm ‑5 pm | An invitation to the international Indigenous dance community to circle together and offer our thoughts and dreams to our ancestors during these unprecedented times. This session is closed and will require registration. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Special guests Louise Potiki Bryant and Olivia Davies hosted by Starr Muranko | |
Rez Bluez Workshop | February 20, 2021 | 5 pm ‑6:30 pm | The Rez Bluez workshop explores the hidden history and musical relationship of Indigenous peoples and the evolution of the blues. Each Artist will discuss their ‘Blues Journey’ and perform one song that honours the Indigenous experience, as told thru their bluez. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Murray Porter Pura Fe Crystal Shawanda Art Napoleon hosted by Elaine Bomberry | |
In The Beginning—A Cultural Sharing **PRE-RECORDED** | February 21, 2021 | 10:30 am ‑12 pm | Origin stories re-told from the three Host Nations and Relations from Upriver in 4 separate recordings Originally produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre and is presented at TalkingStick Festival in partnership with them. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Musqueam—People of the River Grass: Quelemia Sparrow and Christie Lee Charles hosted by Kim Haxton. | |
In the Presence of Ancestor: The “Hovering Community” | February 21, 2021 | 3 pm — 6 pm | Are we transformed virtual beings, new sky citizens of the “Hovering Community” territory of distance and proximity desire? Is this a new space to meet our ancestors, to discover spaces of ancient and future presences? Charles Koroneho respectfully acknowledges Altofest 202X for the support given in the preparation of this workshop and the offer of exchange from The Talking Stick Festival. | Industry Series Dance Workshop | Charles Koroneho hosted by Jeanette Kotowich | |
Indigenous Music Reconnection | February 21, 2021 | 1 pm — 2 pm | Indigenous Music community members are invited to reconnect at this virtual roundtable. Honouring the work of musicians that have played a path for us, we will discuss ways to create in these newly uncertain times and what our community needs for growth—distanced and in-person. This session is closed and will require registration. | Industry Series Roundtable | Email: music@fullcircle.ca if you would like to attend. | Denise Bolduc Orene Askew Curtis Clearsky Jade Harper |
Legacies of Visual Sovereignty | February 23, 2021 | 10:30am-12pm | Honouring the past, present, and future efforts that have radically shift(ed) Indigenous representation and filmmaking. How Indigenous filmmakers build processes and story relationships that de-centre colonial systems of extraction and exploitation. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Alanis Obomsawin and Marie Clements hosted by Jules Koostachin | |
In The Beginning—A Cultural Sharing **PRE-RECORDED** | February 24, 2021 | 10:30 am — 12 pm | Origin stories re-told from the three Host Nations and Relations from Upriver in 4 separate recordings.Originally produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre and is presented at TalkingStick Festival in partnership with them. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Tsleil-Waututh: Leah George-Wilson and Carleen Thomas hosted by Kim Haxton. | |
Artistic Kin and Sovereign Bones **PRE-RECORDED** | February 24, 2021 | 12 pm — 1:30 pm | How can Indigenous artists more authentically centre host nations and embed sovereign recognition in our artistic practice while also ensuring reciprocity, presence, and potency for displaced/ visiting artist-kin? | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Xwalacktun Angela George Quelemia Sparrow hosted by David Geary | |
Still. Reflect. Respond. | February 24, 2021 | 3 pm — 5:30 pm | Respected choreographers and dance artists contemplate where the dance community is in collective practice— where we’ve come from and what we carry with us as we navigate current cultural, social, and political realities. | Panel Discussion Dance | Jessica McMann Victoria Hunt Charles Koroneho Jack Gray Michelle Olson hosted by Mique’l Dangeli | |
In The Beginning—A Cultural Sharing **PRE-RECORDED** | February 25, 2021 | 10:30 am — 12 pm | Origin stories re-told from the three Host Nations and Relations from Upriver in 4 separate recordings Originally produced by the Firehall Arts Centre and Vancouver Moving Theatre and is presented at TalkingStick Festival in partnership with them. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Squamish: Bob Baker, Wes Nahanee, Tracy Williams hosted by Kim Haxton. | |
Indigenous Resistance and Artistic Liberation | February 25, 2021 | 1 pm — 3:30 pm | Recounting past, present and future acts of artistic defiance, nation-building and space-making. How artistic liberation transforms traditional teachings into the justice-centred decolonial story our future ancestors need. (Zoom-generated captions will be provided, and a transcript will be available after the event.) | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Shelley Niro Michael Nicoll Yahgulanaas Tara Beagan Marilyn Dumont hosted by Peter Morin | |
Indigenous Theatre Talking Circle | February 26, 2021 | 11 am — 1 pm | Indigenous theatre practitioners are invited into constellations of care through this gathering. The discussion will include Knowledge and Teachings from the Industry Series that can guide us in lifting one another up as artistic-relations.This session is closed and will require registration. | Industry Series Circle Gathering | Co-hosted with wîcêhtowin Theatre Program, University of Saskatchewan |
Although our events are free, we accept and appreciate donations. Your support will assist us to continue creating opportunities for Indigenous artists.
