Videos from the S,KŦAK Summer Festival of Music

The creation of these videos was supported by SoundON, Creative BC, and the Province of British Columbia. SoundON.ca

S,ḴŦAḴ (pronounced sq-THECK) is the SENĆOŦEN word for 'pass' or 'narrows', and the WSÁNEĆ place name for the island later called Mayne. This area is the traditional territory of the W̱SÁNEĆ people who have been here for millennia and who have rich artistic and traditional culture connected to this place. We extend our thanks and gratitude to them and acknowledge the privilege of enjoying this beautiful place in their territory.

J,SIṈTEN - Welcome to S,ḴŦAḴ

Opening remarks from Dr. J,SIṈTEN Elliot, welcoming guests to the S,ḴŦAḴ Summer Festival of Music in SENĆOŦEN and in English.

Gail Noonan - Galiano Burning

HELI,SET Drum Group - Performance and community dance

Aerialists - Orchard

Hannah Epperson - Tell The Kids It’s Gonna Be Alright

ENÁN U, ṮI TŦE SṮELṮḴEȽ ȽTE

In recognition of National Indigenous Peoples Day we are honoured to share this new video by W̱SÁNEĆ videographer, SX̱EDŦELISIYE Renee Sampson.

A creative collaboration between SX̱EDŦELISIYE (Renée), her daughters, and extended family, this is a moving tribute to residential schools survivors and their descendants, and the children that never made it back home from residential schools. It is set to a powerful soundtrack of voice and drum, performed by J,SIṈTEN, ȻOSINIYE, and the Paul Boys.

About this video created as part of the S,ḴŦAḴ Summer Festival of Music, Renee writes “This process has been different then my last creations. My creativity, and energy has been focused on healing, strong emotions that hit close to home. My late papa went to two residential schools and with the children that have been found in Kamloops it has awaken a lot of hurt and a lots of triggers in our communities. We love and value our babies, our beautiful gifts from our creator so much that in our language SENĆOŦEN, “ṮI” the root word child/children means love, value, need, want. Orange shirt day is not just one day but every day.”