Photo credits: Jana Al-Sagheer, Eileen Klassen Hamm, Rebel Sky Media
The Spruce River Folk Festival is a cultural event organized annually to raise awareness for landless First Nations bands within the province of Saskatchewan. Its mission is to create a space for story, song, and conversation about respectful and reconciling Treaty relationships in Saskatchewan. It is about building understanding and community between peoples whose histories and futures are bound together.
As an effort at understanding Treaty and building relationships, the Folk Festival is becoming known as a small but dynamic opportunity to respond to a number of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission calls to action.
The event is also a fundraiser, and all proceeds go towards the Stoney Knoll Fund, administered by Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan. This fund was established to support reconciliation activities and the land claims work of the Young Chippewayan Band. This band was displaced from land reserved for them at Treaty signing, and is now in need of resources to assist them in getting back to a place they call home. Funds raised have been used to hire historical researchers to gather the genealogical material needed to move this process forward. To learn more, watch the documentary Reserve 107.
This one day festival event begins in the morning with a pipe ceremony and stories from landless bands, followed by local entertainment in the afternoon and early evening.
Organizing partners include the Young Chippewayan First Nation, Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan, Spruce River Research, Parkland Restorative Justice, Grace Mennonite Church, and Mennonite Church Saskatchewan.
As an effort at understanding Treaty and building relationships, the Folk Festival is becoming known as a small but dynamic opportunity to respond to a number of the Truth & Reconciliation Commission calls to action.
The event is also a fundraiser, and all proceeds go towards the Stoney Knoll Fund, administered by Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan. This fund was established to support reconciliation activities and the land claims work of the Young Chippewayan Band. This band was displaced from land reserved for them at Treaty signing, and is now in need of resources to assist them in getting back to a place they call home. Funds raised have been used to hire historical researchers to gather the genealogical material needed to move this process forward. To learn more, watch the documentary Reserve 107.
This one day festival event begins in the morning with a pipe ceremony and stories from landless bands, followed by local entertainment in the afternoon and early evening.
Organizing partners include the Young Chippewayan First Nation, Mennonite Central Committee Saskatchewan, Spruce River Research, Parkland Restorative Justice, Grace Mennonite Church, and Mennonite Church Saskatchewan.