School District 43, Douglas College, Kwikwetlem First Nation and the city of Coquitlam are collaborating to bring a three-day All Nations Festival to Lafarge Lake and Town Centre Park in July in what is being described as a showcase of Coast Salish art and culture.
The event is an expanded version of a similar event held in Port Moody's Rocky Point Park in 2013, and organizers say it will be a chance for people to explore culture, art, music and learn more about the Coast Salish identity.
Malcolm Key, aboriginal education community school coordinator, who is helping to organize the event told the school board Tuesday that the All Nations Festival will also include an academic colloquium and experts in Coast Salish languages, culture and identity are invited to submit a proposal to participate.
Keynote speakers include Lee Maracle, a Coast Salish writer, and Gwen Point, A Stó:lo leader who is also the chancellor of the University of the Fraser Valley.
The three day event will take place in eight events from July 23 to 25 at Lafarge Lake, Evergreen Cultural Centre and Douglas College (David Lam campus). Among the offerings will be music, story-telling, food trucks, break-dancing and hip hop performances at the skate park, a Coast Salish Lacrosse Challenge for kids, along with the discussions of academic research on Coast Salish culture and frameworks and strategies for environmental stewardship.
The event is produced by Coquitlam School District Aboriginal Education, Coast Salish Cultural Network, and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
More information is available at [email protected], on Twitter @AllNationsFest with hashtags #Coast Salish #AllNationsFest and online at allnationsfest.com.
