WIIKWEMKOONG—The global fusion phenomenon known as A Tribe Called Red is coming to Wiikwemikoong May 24 as part of their 2018 Rez Tour and they will be bringing their state-of-the-art mobile stage with them to Thunderbird Park—and it’s free!
“They are on their second Rez Tour,” said Wikwemikong Heritage Organization events coordinator Sheena Wassegijig. “The first was in 2015 and they started out this tour in the fall.”
The concept behind the tours is to bring the experience of a major musical production to smaller more remote communities that normally wouldn’t be able to access these kinds of events. “When you look at the big festivals in Toronto and other major cities and the cost of those tickets, a lot of people wouldn’t be able to experience that,” said Ms. Wassegijig.
The concert is open to anybody and is free for all. “Anybody between Sault Ste. Marie, Toronto and the Sudbury area can come to see the show,” said Ms. Wassegijig. “The last one we had here was standing room only.”
The Rez Tour program is definitively youth-oriented and a free workshop on production will take place the next day from 11 am to 12 pm on Friday, also at Thunderbird Park.
“It is all about making the opportunity to experience and learn about production accessible,” said Ms. Wassegijig.
There will be a choreographed dance troupe accompanying A Tribe Called Red and Zigs Guad, the Wikwemikong School of Dance will be performing as an opening for the group, as well as performances from local artists Lena Trudeau, Katelyn Abel and Nashville recording artist Matt James, who will be performing his new single ‘A Miner’s Prayer’ and a few other songs from his newly released CD.
This is an alcohol and drug free event and there will be vendors available onsite with lemonade and scone among the offerings.
For the uninitiated, A Tribe Called Red is a Canadian DJ collective, whose work creates “a modern gateway into urban and contemporary indigenous culture and experience, celebrating all its layers and complexity.” They are a pretty exciting bunch to watch, and hear, in action, fusing traditional powwow sounds with a ultra-modern twist.
A Tribe Called Red has performed at such high profile festival dates as Coachella, Bonnaroo, AfroPunk, Osheaga and New Orleans Jazz Fest. In 2014, the mainstream discovered the group when the band became the first Indigenous group to win the Breakthrough Group of the Year award at the Juno Awards. A Tribe Called Red was also long-listed for Canada’s prestigious Polaris Music Prize in both 2012 and 2013, and its debut album has been included in the Washington Post’s top 10 albums.
Based out of Ottawa, the group refers to itself and its fans as the “Halluci Nation.”
“A Tribe Called Red promotes inclusivity, empathy and acceptance amongst all races and genders in the name of social justice,” notes their website. “They believe that Indigenous people need to define their identity on their own terms. If you share this vision, then you are already part of the Halluci Nation.”
