Engage in learning and reflection with local Indigenous artists, storytellers and knowledge keepers.
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA), Niagara Folk Arts Festival, and Kakekalanicks Consulting have partnered once again to host the second annual Reawakening program at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area.
Set within the beautiful landscape of the Niagara Escarpment and Carolinian forest, the Reawakening event series returns on Saturday, Sept. 23, featuring ‘Indigenous Stories by the Fire’ and interactive storytelling, drumming, music and dancing that will ignite participants’ sense of place, purpose and connection.
This specially programmed evening will allow participants to awaken their spirits in the natural world with immersive Indigenous cultural programming under the stars. They will gather in circle and listen as Haudenosaunee and Anishinaabe Elders drum around the fire and share stories that have been passed for generations with traditional dance and song. Elders include Dave Labbe, Mawla Shawana, Franklin McNaughton, and George Johnson.
This year’s event will also welcome award-winning country music singer-songwriter and storyteller from Six Nations, Jim Jacobs, who will perform his music and share stories through song to awaken participants’ sense of sound and spirit.
Guests of all ages are invited to attend this event at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m. They are encouraged to arrive early to engage in an interactive orange t-shirt making activity before the opening of ‘Stories by the Fire’. They can bring their own white t-shirt or purchase a blank t-shirt at the event while supplies last, to create their own orange t-shirt in honour and recognition of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30.
There is limited capacity and advanced registration is required to attend this event. Admission is $25. In case of inclement weather, the event will be held on Sunday, Sept. 24.
The first Reawakening event was held in September 2022, titled ‘Reawakening All of Our Relations’. It featured a three-day weekend filled with a variety of activities and programs such as Cultural Roots of Lacrosse. More than 100 participants joined over the course of the program to reflect on Indigenous histories, knowledge and futures in the Niagara Peninsula Watershed.
Through partnership, the Reawakening event series will be offered annually, with a new secondary title each year that highlights the nature of the programming. All proceeds from the Reawakening event will support Indigenous-led initiatives and programming in the Niagara Peninsula watershed.
QUOTES
Michele-Elise Burnett, Kakekalenicks Indigenous Consulting
Again in 2023, we are so pleased to collaborate with Niagara Pennisula Conservation Authority and the Niagara Folk Arts to bring back the Reawakening program. This immersive indigenous experience gives the audience a deeper understanding of our beautiful traditions, and culture with Elders sharing stories, songs and dance by the Fire. This year we are elated to welcome Jim Jacobs, award-winning Country Musician, to share his music and his journey.
Pam Seabrook, Fundraising and Events Manager, Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre
The Niagara Folk Arts Festival is very proud to be in partnership with Kakekalanicks Consulting and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority, to bring our Reawakening All Our Senses to fruition this September. The inspiration for this program began decades ago, and coupled with the Truth and Reconciliation, Call to Action #93, this event aims to overcome the barriers of language, religion, and ethno-cultural backgrounds for Newcomers, Immigrants and Established Canadians, by using art, spoken word, song, dance and drumming, creating an opportuning for community dialogues. What better setting than the green spaces here in Niagara, gathered fireside, surrounded by a starlit forest, led by Indigenous presenters, to have a moment for self-education, self-expression and self-reflection.
Dr. Alicia Powell, Manager, Conservation Areas Programs and Services, NPCA
The NPCA is thrilled to partner with Niagara Folk Arts Festival and Michele-Elise Burnett of Kakekalanicks on the second annual Reawakening program at Ball’s Falls Conservation Area. The Stories by the Fire event, a signature features of the Reawakening event series, will deliver an Indigenous-led program featuring immersive, experiential and musical performances and sharing around the fire. We are looking forward to welcoming attendees to the the beautiful outdoor setting within the conservation area. To be able to deliver this exciting program for the second year in a row is phenomenal and I am so proud and privileged to have been able to support the visions of Michele-Elise (Kakekalenicks) and Pam Seabrook (Niagara Folk Arts Festival). We truly believe this event will reawaken and reinvigorate attendees in the spirit and sense of reconciliation.
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About Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA):
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority is a community-based natural resource management agency that works to protect, enhance, and sustain healthy watersheds. With 61 years of experience, NPCA offers watershed programs and services that focus on flood and hazard management, source water protection, species protection, ecosystem restoration, community stewardship, and land management.
The NPCA is one of 36 Conservation Authorities in the Province of Ontario and manages 41 Conservation Areas within the Niagara Peninsula watershed held in public trust for recreation, heritage preservation, conservation, and education. These natural and shared greenspaces marry nature, culture, and adventure to create limitless opportunities for discovery.
For more information about the NPCA, visit www.npca.ca. Follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.
About Kakekalanicks Consulting:
Kakekalanicks’ mission is to promote Indigenous art and artists to broad-based audiences and acts to educate the public about the deep-rooted beauty and uniqueness of each Nation's culture, heritage and traditions through the medium of the arts.
About Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre & Niagara Folk Arts Festival:
The Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre is a charitable, not-for-profit organization, where we celebrate and promote cultural, social and economic inclusion and well-being of all immigrants and newcomers.
Under the umbrella of Niagara Folk Arts Multicultural Centre, the Niagara Folk Arts Festival is a non-profit organization using sport and art in all mediums to provide opportunities for discussions on diversity, artistic cultural expression, encouraging the retention of cultural heritage and traditions, the sharing of cultural activities with the community and to promote understanding and acceptance among the different cultures that make up the Canadian mosaic.
Questions related to the above release should be directed to:
Erika Navarro, Communications Specialist
Mobile: 905-650-4027
enavarro@npca.ca