Sumsháthut [Sun] Festival – Solstice

Sumshathut Sun Festival

Our First Annual event was hosted Live, streamed from the homes and places of the performers on December 20th.

Åsa Simma was born into a nomadic reindeer herding family, migrating between north Sweden and Norway depending on the season. She was taught the traditional Sami singing called “yoik”, during that time yoiks was forbidden. She was part of the movement to diminish the yoiking ban. She left for Denmark where she took an actor’s education. Åsa Simma has been very active in the global indigenous peoples’ movements. She has toured among Australian Aboriginals, lived with Inuits from Greenland and Native American Indians. Worked as a film dramaturgist and script developer at the International Sami Film Institute. Presently she is the CEO of the Sami Theatre.

Feasting is an important part of Indigenous culture, and our inaugural festival offered an evening where we savoured the extraordinary talent of Indigenous artists, athletes, singers, fashion designers, and story tellers, including:

The event has been curated and co-produced by Tsatassaya White, a member of the Snuneymuwx First Nation who also belongs to the Hupacasath First Nation from Nuu-chah-nulth in Port Alberni. Tsatassaya will also be presenting the film, Huulth Huultha, edited by Dustin Anderson.

Presented by Crimson Coast Dance

Sponsored by Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre

For information and details call
(250) 716-3230

Coyote Science
Kid’s Show, Coyote Science
Notorius Cree
Traditional Hoop Dance Artist, Notorious Cree | Coyote Science
NHL star and Aboriginal Achievement Award recipient, Gino Odjick
NHL star and Aboriginal Achievement Award recipient, Gino Odjick
Emma Stephens
Mi’kmaq Nation singer, Emma Stephens – Singing here
Giron Sami Teahter
The Sámi People’s Theater, Giron Sámi Teáhter

A Maori Cultural Message

Smokey Valley Drum and Dance Group
Smokey Valley Drum and Dance Group – watch them here
Ay Lelum
Coast Salish Design House, Ay Lelum
Vincent Short
Vincent Short
Xwelmexw Shxwexwo:s
Xwelmexw Shxwexwo:s (Salish Thunderbird)

Dancing Spirits, Tseshaht, Nuu-Chah-nulth Family

DJ DBL-G
DJ DBL-G
Grace Dove
Grace Dove, Secwépemc Actress
Kevin Cranmer
Kevin Cranmer, Artist, Singer, Dancer, Traditional Knowledge Keeper
Event Details
Event Details
Sponsors