The 14th annual Ko K'e Spoken Word and Music Festival is set to wrap up its tour of the Northwest Territories in Inuvik September 27.
Photo courtesy of the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre
Marie Coderre, executive and artistic director of the Northern Arts and Cultural Centre, said the festival is a celebration of Northern culture.
This year's theme is cross-generational Indigenous perspectives, and Coderre said all of the performers have deep connections to the North.
"We put a strong emphasis on artists who are from here, from the North, because storytelling is integral to the culture here, and I think it is very important to continue oral traditions of this region," said Coderre. "In this time of reconciliation, it is so important to have elders and people of different generations speak up and tell their stories. It is a beautiful way to educate people and learn."
Coderre said the festival will travel to the territory's five regions, with stops in Hay River, Fort Simpson, Yellowknife, Fort Smith, Norman Wells and Inuvik.
One of the festival's performers, Maggie Mercredi, said she will be telling stories about
her life experiences and triumphs.
Photo courtesy of Bill Braden
Photo courtesy of Bill Braden
"It's important that we all come together in a space where we can share our experiences and stories … and it's important that we create spaces like this for each other and for other people who are interested in listening who also might have stories to tell," she said. "These stories are being offered in a way that creates a safe space for sharing talents, traditions, ceremonies and experiences."
Ernie Lennie, another performer at the festival, said he will be sharing stories of how he overcame the challenges that followed his time in residential school in Inuvik.
Lennie, who was also an Olympic cross-country skier, has spent time as a counsellor assisting those with addictions and trauma related to colonialism.
"This performance isn't going to be about Ernie Lennie and cross-country skiing. What they've asked me to do is address the intergenerational impact of residential school and colonization, which is very real today," said Lennie. "As someone who has been impacted by residential school … the story that will go on stage is about how I have dealt with that. It will be how to overcome adversity, how to overcome negative thinking and overcome everything we're dealing with today."
Lennie said through telling his stories, he hopes that he will restore hope in his community and show people it is possible to overcome the challenges and adversity that they are experiencing in their lives.
"Storytelling comes from our culture … it is able to show the incredible challenges human beings are able to overcome," he said. "I want to share my story because a story makes a ripple around the world."
The Inuvik slot of the festival will be held at the Midnight Sun Recreation Complex September 27 at 7 p.m., and performers will give a shortened performance at East Three Secondary School earlier in the day for students.
Adult tickets cost $10, and senior and youth entry is by donation.