Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration

With less than five days left before Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration, we thought we’d give you the rundown on what to expect in Winnipeg during the festivities.

The ADL2013 site officially opens at 11am at The Forks but noon is when most of the activities begin. Head over to the skateboard park and sign up for The Best Trick Skateboard Competition. It’s open to all ages with the youngest group of competitors (13 and under) starting things off at noon. Here is more information about the competition including the rules and regulations.

Our Celebration Village, which consists of three cultural pavilions: First Nations, Inuit and Métis, also begins at noon. There will be workshops for all ages, tasty culinary delights, hand-crafted art, storytelling, music, dance and so much more. Located in each of the three cultural pavilions is a mini-stage. Join us as each stage takes turns featuring entertainers from a variety of cultural backgrounds. For detailed information about Celebration Village, click here.

For the first time in Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration history, The Manito Ahbee Festival will partner with APTN to host the “Aboriginal Day Competition Pow Wow” at The Forks. Registration begins at noon with the Grand Entry starting at 1pm. You can click here to get more information about the Pow Wow including etiquette tips.

Starting at 7:30pm is our 4-hour ADL2013 concert which will be broadcast LIVE on APTN. There is a stellar list of performers including: Crystal Shawanda, A Tribe Called Red, Dallas Arcand, George Leach, Kathia Rock, Sagkeeng’s Finest, War Party and Tanya Tagaq.

The night will be capped off with a fireworks display at 11:30pm. It will be the perfect way to end an event that will be one for the history books. Click here for a detailed map of the #ADL2013 site at The Forks. We hope to see you there!

Every year, APTN organizes a second event in another Canadian city. This year, APTN is excited to host Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration in Iqaluit at the Arctic Winter Games Arena.

Free tickets for the big concert event can be picked up in advance at NorthMart stores until June 21st. If you’ve acquired a ticket in advance, you can present it at the AWG arena between 5pm and 7pm on June 22nd to pick up your wristband for the show. The RCMP will also be there serving up delicious BBQ fare!

The concert, which will be broadcast live on APTN, starts at 8:30pm and is hosted by comedian Don Kelly, from APTN’s Fish Out of Water, and co-hosted by the multi-talented Madeleine Allakariallak. We have performances by Artcirq, Leela Gilday, Nelson Tagoona, Saali, Saina Singer, Sinuupa and the iconic Susan Aglukark. For more information about the artists, click here.

We hope to see you out in big numbers to celebrate the beauty and diversity of Aboriginal culture in Canada. You won’t want to miss it!

Hailed by Maclean’s Magazine as one of Canada’s 100 leaders to watch for, Susan Aglukark uses her musical gifts as a platform to share her passion for her Inuit heritage. Over the years, she has performed for Queen Elizabeth, former Prime Ministers Jean Chrétien and Brian Mulroney and Nelson Mandela.

With seven albums to her credit, three Juno Awards and as a recipient of the Order of Canada, Susan has made her mark as a Canadian musical icon. It has been six years since her last album release, White Sahara, which takes place at the transition between two eras – the origins and history of a young artist, and the future of a mature, accomplished and open artist.

Susan Aglukark is quickly becoming a highly sought after motivational speaker and workshop facilitator. Combining her music with her workshops, Susan shares positive messages about the history of her people. We are honoured to have Susan Aglukark perform in Iqaluit during #ADL2013.

In one week, music will be echoing throughout two Canadian cities as families and friends come together to celebrate the rich cultural history of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. Aboriginal Day Live and Celebration is right around the corner and Winnipeg and Iqaluit are gearing up!

As the final preparations are being made, the buzz and excitement is hard to ignore. Musicians are tweaking their sets, artisans are putting the final touches on their crafts and recipes are being perfected by the many food vendors that will be on-site for the big day.

And for the first time in ADL history, Manito Ahbee in partnership with APTN are proud to host The National Aboriginal Day Competition Pow Wow in Winnipeg at The Forks. Although pow wows are wonderfully entertaining and spectators are encouraged, there are some pow wow etiquette tips we’d like to share.

1. Ask permission before taking pictures of dancers. Many people are sensitive about pictures, so it is always good to be on the safe side and ask.

2. Do not touch eagle feathers or other items without asking permission. Women who are menstruating are not allowed to be near or touch eagle feathers.

3. Always stand during special songs. This includes Grand Entry, Flag Songs, Veteran Songs, Memorial Songs, Prayer Songs, and any song the announcers designate. It is also customary to remove any hats that you have on for the duration of that song.

4. Pay attention to the announcers. They will give all of the information you need, as well as entertain you and keep you posted on any news. They can answer any of your questions.

5. Remember you are a guest. Have fun, ask questions and meet people. Everyone is welcome!

Michelle Thrush is the epitome of a role model for Aboriginal Peoples in Canada. She has been working professionally in film, television and theatre for over twenty years and makes giving back to her community a priority, especially when it comes to working with youth.

Michelle brings her award-winning presence to the main stage. Her latest achievements include a 2012 Rosie Award for Best Performance by an Alberta Actress, and she was appointed 2012 Alberta Aboriginal Role Model of the Year.

In 2011, Michelle won a Gemini for “Best Performance by an Actress in a Continuing Leading Dramatic Role” for her character, Gail Stoney, on the hit APTN dramatic series Blackstone. You can watch full episodes of Blackstone at aptn.ca.

The mother of two wonderful daughters, Michelle and her family are currently residing in Calgary, AB. We are so excited she will be making the trek to Winnipeg to host #ADL2013!

Don Kelly is a comedian, writer, actor and host extraordinaire. As a stand-up comic he has performed across North America and has appeared on numerous television and radio comedy showcases, including his own national television specials on CBC’s Comics!, CTV’s Comedy Now, the Winnipeg Comedy Festival, The Debaters and many other national and regional programs.

Don’s background is in media and communications. He has worked as a writer-broadcaster for CBC, as well as in strategic communications and media relations. For many years he served as Communications Director for the Assembly of First Nations and continues to perform strategic communications policy and planning work with the AFN and other organizations. Don is a member of the Ojibways of Onigaming, a Treaty #3 First Nation in northwestern Ontario.

Don is a multiple Gemini-award nominee for the television show Fish Out of Water which airs on APTN. The show explores Don’s adventures as an urban Ojibway trying to learn the traditional skills and wisdom of Aboriginal Peoples… with side-splitting results! You can watch full episodes of Fish Out of Water right here.

Don has hosted Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration since 2008 and he is now taking his hosting skills up north. Watch out Iqaluit!

Madeleine Allakariallak was born and raised in Resolute Bay by her Inuktitut speaking grandmother. She has always been proud of her culture and language and has spent most of her life sharing it with others through her musical talents.

Madeleine has toured the world thanks in part to her involvement in various throat singing groups. She was one half of the singing duo Tudjaat and was also part of the group Aqsarniit. Along with her Inuit throat songs and drum dances, she shares her life’s passions as a motivational speaker.

Madeleine currently resides in Iqaluit with her family. She is the Premier’s Executive Assistant for the Government of Nunavut and spent almost a decade as a CBC Radio morning show host, producer and reporter in Iqaluit.

As a former host/producer with APTN, Madeleine will always be considered part of the APTN family.

As cohost of Aboriginal Day Live, Derek Miller will be interviewing artists in the Derek Miller Guilt Free Zone after their Winnipeg performances. He’ll get the nitty gritty from them, and there’s sure to be a lot of backstage fun! Don’t miss it, June 22nd!

Derek is currently working on a new show called “The Guilt Free Zone” that’s a little bit talk show, a little bit sketch comedy, a little bit cabaret, basically a little of everything. Derek and his traveling band of misfits will cross the country looking for trouble with one simple rule: no guilt allowed! This new show is slated to air on APTN in the near future. Stay tuned for details.

If you plan to join Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration via the web, APTN’s Webstage Pass™ expands the experience so everyone can be involved. APTN’s own Chantelle will keep you up to date with what’s happening online. See live streaming of the concert, backstage webcams, live Twitter chat, photos from across the web, and more!

To be part of the action, don’t forget to use the hashtag #ADL2013 when posting comments or photos on social media. Even if you can’t be at the live events, your online presence will be an integral part of Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration. The online fun will be right here at www.aboriginaldaylive.com.

With so many people taking part in the festivities during Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration, we know they’ll be lots of smart phones snapping photos. We want you to share them with us using either Instagram or Twitter. Just upload your pictures like you do every day but make sure to include #ADL2013 so we can find them. Not only will the pictures be available online here at aboriginaldaylive.com, they will also be projected on to the huge screens beside the stage at The Forks in Winnipeg throughout the day and during the live concert broadcast.