Inaugural Okanagan Indigenous Festival highlights music, art and community

Attendees are expecting a wholesome, diverse and entertaining weekend for the first Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival, and initial impressions reveal that West Kelowna First Nation Council is providing just that.

People from all over piled into Gellatly Field and the Annette Beaudreau Ampitheatre in Johnson Bentley Memorial Park on Saturday — and will do so on Sunday as well — to take in the workshops, initiatives, art and performances for the event's first year.

The event was spurred forward by Jennifer Lee Money, president of the Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Society, who felt a need to bridge the gap in their community and highlight Indigenous cultures, leading her to bring the idea to the Westbank First Nation Council.

"I live in Westbank First Nation reserve and our reserve shares a significant interface with City of Kelowna and the City of West Kelowna. We wanted to create a welcoming space for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to gather together and celebrate the resilience and the revitalization of the Indigenous culture," said an excited Money, explaining that it is also an opportunity for "disenfranchised First Nation people" to experience their culture in a welcoming environment.

“Another big focus of this event is creating representation for First Nations youth and examples of success within contemporary musical arenas," she added, citing the variety of music industry workshops — conducted by artists including Juno-nominated Kelly Fraser and musicians Mob Bounce — and traditional arts and crafts to provide an exposure to people and the community at large.

On top of the workshops, a lineup of impressive artists and performers — including Blue Moon Marquee, Joey Stylez and West Kelowna's own Kelly Derrickson — are scheduled to bring their rhythmic talents to the stage.

The vendor village, called nqʷícsʔtxʷ an pínaʔ (translated to "fill your basket") has over 25 booths showing off products from artisans, crafters and fashion designers across Canada.

Money pointed out that even the location of the event (which operates inside both the borders of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation land) is significant and works to bridge the gap between Westbank and the West Kelowna and Kelowna communities.

"We do share those borders and we are actually one community and we need to build lifelong relationships and ways of moving forward that are positive, respectful, welcoming and engaging.”

Roxanne Lindley, Westbank First Nation Chief, saw the event as an opportunity to showcase Indigenous culture and bring a variety of different cultures together.

"It’s really wonderful that we can use this piece of property to bring people together, to bring all of these different cultures together. We can learn from each other, we can share, we can create new friendships and understand each other more,” Lindley said.

“I would encourage citizens from West Kelowna to come over and interact with us, share with us, support us, support local artists, come out and meet new friends. Just enjoy time on the land."

The Okanagan Indigenous Music and Arts Festival runs until 10 p.m. on Saturday and will begin again on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tickets can be purchased here.