Spirit Song Big Ticket - FULL

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Date: Nov 25
7:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Where: Level 3 Atrium
Spirit Song

In collaboration with First Light, you are invited for an early performance by PIQSIQ, and then Dance Party vibes with Notorious Cree, Native Pride Dancers, and a community dance with DJs Fred Fost and Sarkastadon!

With a Red Carpet entrance, black lights, dance floor, it's the community celebration we wait for all year! Audiences and artists alike are encouraged to dress-their-best (whatever that means to you), with Regalia highly encouraged!

The event will be hosted by Auntie-in-Residence Jenelle Duval.

This is a free event but a ticket is required. Please reserve your free ticket online or by calling (709)757-8090.

Level 3 and Level 4 Art Galleries will be open. Please check out the incredible work of artists such as Jerry Evans, Glenn Gear, Heather Campbell, and Billy Gauthier.

https://www.therooms.ca/exhibits/now/jerry-evans-weljesi
https://www.therooms.ca/exhibits/now/glenn-gear-ivaluk-ullugiallu-sinew-stars

The Rooms is accessible with wheelchairs and infant strollers available upon request. Please note that there is no smoking on the Rooms Premises or on The Rooms grounds.Thank you in advance for your cooperation!

About the Performers:

Notorious Cree

James Jones is a traditional hoop dance artist who has performed and travelled across Europe, China, Australia, and North America.  Jones is ranked among the top 5 hoop dancers in the world. Some of James notable performances include the 2006 Work Ski Cup Championship in Italy, 2010 Vancouver Olympics, 2014 Juno Awards, 2015 Pan AM Games, 2015 Coachella Music Festival and the 2015 Sydney Opera House.

He has worked with artists such as K-OS and Snoop Dogg. In 2009, James appeared as a finalist on the TV Show, “So You Think You Can Dance Canada” and is currently hoop-dancing on a world tour with Juno award winning group, A Tribe Called Red.

PIQSIQ

With a style perpetually galvanized by darkness and haunting northern beauty, sisters, Tiffany Ayalik and Inuksuk Mackay, come together to create Inuit style throat singing duo,
PIQSIQ. Performing ancient traditional songs and eerie new compositions, they leave their listeners enthralled with the infinity of possible answers to the question “what is the meaning of life.”

With roots in Nunavut, the two grew up in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. After years of forging hard won skill, they developed their own form blended with haunting melodies and otherworldly sounds. Approaching adulthood, they realized throat singing was not only a musical expression, but a radical, political act of cultural revitalization.

As PIQSIQ, they have recorded four studio albums and perform improvisational looping live, creating a dynamic audience experience that changes with every show.

Native Pride Dancers

Larry Yazzie is a Native American (Meskwaki/Dine) and charismatic performing artist, actor. He is also the founder of the Native Pride Dancers of Native Pride Productions based now in Jacksonville, Florida.

Larry is also a Fancy, Northern Style Traditional, and Eagle dancer. Each of these styles of Native American Dance has a unique look and tells a beautiful story through movement and music. Larry shares stories and teaches about traditional Native American as well as contemporary styles of dance blended with traditional Native American and mainstream music during his solo and troupe performances.

Larry Yazzie is a proud member of the Meskwaki Nation in Central Iowa and is a respected member of the community. He is a two-time world champion Fancy dancer (Schemitzun Powwow) and has been awarded top honors at powwows across the United States and Canada. Dancing from age seven, Larry began competing as a Fancy Dancer at powwows in his early teens.

Larry has taken Powwow Dance to the Performing Arts Stage and has performed as a solo dancer or within a full troupe production that he directs. It is Larry’s mission to educate, motivate, and inspire his audiences and bridge communities through his music, stories, and dance.

Larry’s notable stage performances include appearances at the Walker Art Center, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, Cowles Center, Reif Performing Arts Center, the Olympic Games, The Kennedy Center, and the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC and New York City.

His versatility is also exemplified by invitations to accompany several modern rock and pop bands including Dirtwire and Portugal the Man on stage as a featured artist and special guest. Most recently, Larry received recognition from Billboard Magazine for his performance with Dirtwire at the Gem & Jam Festival in Tucson, Arizona.

His most current film work includes Django (series: post-production), The Canyonlands (2021), Ghost Warrior (2021), Coyotaje (2018), Lapham Rising (postproduction), Kid West (2017), No Blood of Mine (2017) and most recently filmed a documentary near Savannah, Georgia.

Fred Fost

Fred is of Inuit descent with roots in Hopedale and Okak, Nunatisavut. His grandmother Charlotte Winters-Fost is an Inuk Elder strongly connected to the urban Indigenous community. Born and raised on the island of Newfoundland, Fred has been immersed in Inuit drum dancing and throat singing since he was an infant. With musical roots connected to Inuit culture, Fred has also gained knowledge and experience with piano and percussion. In rencent years, Fred has established a passion for producing digital music and collaborating with like-minded artists. Fred wants to instill inspiration in those close to him and Indigenous youth through his music.

Jenelle Duval

Jenelle is pumped to be your Auntie-in-Residence for this year's SSF! Born in St. George's, NL, Jenelle attributes her strength and cultural understanding to her Mother and Aunties. A proud Mi'kmaw woman and a member of Qalipu First Nation, Jenelle has been singing and drumming since she was a young girl and is so grateful for everyone who has taken the time to share songs and space with her. Spirit Song and First Light is home to Jenelle, where she worked on Arts and Culture initiatives for over a decade. Now she spends her time in content advisory, and enjoys elevating Indigenous voices and narratives all over Atlantic Canada through her role in public broadcasting. She can't wait to hang out during Spirit Song and bring that Big Auntie Energy to this year's Festival.