Feature stories

February 22: 40 Years and Still Strong: The Dene Nation

Come and celebrate with the Dene Nation as they mark 40 years since coming together as a political organization to protect the treaty rights of the Dene people. From 11:00am to 3:00pm the Nation is planning a program featuring a number of traditional forms of entertainment that have evolved over the many years they have occupied the lands in northern Canada. The famous Gwich'in fiddlers and dancers will use music and movements to tell the story of their people from time immemorial. In the spirit of competition at the Olympic Games the Dene Nation representatives will demonstrate the Dene hand games. The games are usually played by a team to the sound of beating drums where the goal is to conceal objects in your hand and try to fool the other team.

Every day from 3:30pm and to 7:30pm, the Four Host First Nations is proud to present We Are Here at the Chiefs’ House — a spectacular 360 degree multimedia experience featuring the driving beats, vivid sights and compelling stories of Aboriginal culture across Canada.

The Evening Performance Series continues at 9:30pm with the sounds of an urban beat for a set entitled The Royal House of Hip Hop. First up is Feenix AKA Shawn Bernard. Feenix grew up in Edmonton, where he has been into rap for as long as he can remember, eventually forming his own rap group in 1992. After falling into the gang life, Feenix left to pursue his passion for rap and hip hop. Team Rezofficial can speak to the experiences of young First Nations men growing up in Hobbema, Alberta, Calgary, Saskatoon, and Winnipeg. Their varied backgrounds lend them a credibility to talk about life growing up on the reserve and in urban Canada. He is an actor, composer, but most of all he is a rapper: Ostwelve got his first song on the radio when he was just 14 years old. Now he travels the world delivering his rhymes at events such as the Global African Hip Hop Summit 2005 and the Nokia Jam in Johannesburg, South Africa. Inuit dance group Kaiva takes the hip hop sound, mixes in a healthy dose of Inuit moves and music and presents a show brimming with energy, manic footwork and acrobatics. They say their shows are about getting youth to express themselves in constructive ways and sharing their cultures. Saskatchewan rapper Def3 heads off on a European tour in March. That's testament to the global appeal of this rapper who has become a giant in the hip hop scene in his home province.

Aboriginal songs, stories and art aren't the only things to check out at the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion. Every night during the Winter Games the Four Host First Nations presents Lounge Nights at the Jack Poole Hall from 9:00pm to 12:00am. Sample a fusion of traditional Aboriginal food and contemporary cuisine including the chef’s famous bison sliders with sautéed wild mushrooms and Salt Spring Island goat cheese. Sit back and relax with a glass of wine and catch the evenings’ Olympic programming on our flat screen televisions.

Aboriginal Artisan Village and Business Showcase

Two solo artists take to the Aboriginal Artisan Village and Business Showcase main stage today. Jared Sowan comes from the Swan River First Nation in Northern Alberta. This First Nations composer and performer has been singing since the age of 6, dabbling in the genres of gospel, country, blues and rock. His powerful voice has been described as a soulful, creator-given talent. He performs at 11:00am and 3:00pm. Cheri Maracle is a Mohawk singer-songwriter whose music has been described as a fusion of roots, rock, jazz and blues. She sings soulful songs about identity, pride, Aboriginal issues, love and the human spirit. She performs at 6:00pm

The very popular Artisan Village will be getting a boost from bead power when Anishinabek bead artisan Naomi Smith brings her fabulous creations to Vancouver. Smith has spent years studying the traditional styles of beadwork done by First Nations artists since the 1800's.She creates elaborately designed pincushions decorated with beads along with beautifully decorated bracelets. She will be at the Artisan Village until February 24th.