Feature stories

February 25 – Showcasing Saskatchewan First Culture and Arts

Today, the spotlight is on the First Nations of Saskatchewan. The Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations is proud to present a celebration of the prairie Nations — a unique and thriving part of Canada's Aboriginal landscape. The award winning First Nations performers from the Saskatchewan Treaty Territory hit the stage to contemporary and traditional song and dance. Expect a lively, hand clapping and toe tapping event that will please everyone in the crowd and leave them wanting more.

While you are at the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion, we challenge you... to find the frog! Search high and low because with this effort you will be rewarded with great fortune and luck. Squamish Nation artist Jody Broomfield has painted a frog that will bring good luck. "My Grandmother told me as a young man that to find a frog is very good luck. I found two in my living room one day – they were bright green with red feet – I tried to recreate this here at the pavilion."  How lucky are you feeling? Come find the frog!

Join us in the Jack Poole Reception Hall for a bite to eat from our specially developed Aboriginal menu. Our Lounge Nights are a casual, inviting place to try the best of Aboriginal wine and cuisine. The Jack Poole Hall opens to the public at 9pm.

Tonight's evening performances are a beautiful blend of Tales and Traditions — the well-suited theme for the night. Join the Coastal Wolfpack as they show off some of the most powerful traditional Musqueam and Stó:lō singing that can be found in the region. A powerhouse on stage – they combine sheer talent with showmanship. Next up is a real treat, beautiful Peyote prayer songs by Meewasin Oma, an acappella group from Saskatchewan. Switching gears for the last performance, we show off the magic of traditional Pow-wow music of the Whitefish Juniors to close the evening.

The Aboriginal Artisan Village and Business Showcase

From 10am – 10pm, make your way to the Aboriginal Artisan Village inside the Vancouver Community College at Dunsmuir and Hamilton Streets to find beautifully hand-crafted and authentic Aboriginal arts, crafts and clothing. The Village has been bustling for over a week with thousands of visitors strolling the aisles and leaving with their own treasures. Today, come see Nlakapamux Nation's Wanda Dexel who focuses on making traditional handmade drums, rattles, dream catchers, medicine wheels as well as both traditional and contemporary style jewelry.

Discover a wide-range of market-ready Aboriginal businesses at the Business Showcase. In a trade-show like setting, many prominent Aboriginal companies have set up their booths to share their mandates and network with potential clients and business partners from around the world. Today, Turtle Island News, Canada's only national native weekly newspaper is on-site to represent their publication which is politically independent and wholly owned and operated by Aboriginal people. Come visit their booth to find out more about their thriving publication and get ready to read up on some of the best stories to hit the printing press.

Today on the main stage will be a trio of star performers starting with JB the FirstLady a rising star in the Canadian hip hop scene. Then the Don Amero Duo jumps on stage to perform. Find out why Don was named the Best Aboriginal Male Artist of the year at the 2009 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. The last performance goes to MC Joey Stylez who has become of the most sought after MC's in the country. These performances are at 11am, 3pm and 6pm respectively. Don't miss them!