WIIKWEMKOONG—Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory (WUT) will be a hive of activity this weekend with several major activities taking place. The sixth annual Wiikwemkoong Arts and Music Festival (WAMF) is a partnership of Debajehmujig Theatre Group with Wiikwemkoong Tourism and the Wikwemikong Heritage Organization. Taking place as well is the Wiikwemkoong Annual Cultural Festival. And not to be outdone, the Wiikwemkoong Wrestling Championship will also take place.
The addition of WAMF to the Wiikwemkoong Annual Cultural Festival kicks off four days of cultural and artistic offerings, with an evening of top-notch entertainment. Indigenous icon Don Burnstick will bless the stage with his unique brand of comedy and Wiikwemkoong’s own Juno award winner, Crystal Shawanda, will ignite the crowd with her rhythmic grooves. This year’s highlight is a headline performance by Canada’s ‘Queen of R&B Soul,’ the amazing Jully Black.
As a platinum-selling recording artist, Ms. Black’s music career has yielded multiple singles Top 10 pop, R&B and dance music charts. She has taken home Juno and Gemini awards, earned innumerable industry accolades, and was hand-selected to sing for the Queen of England and inducted into Canada’s Walk of Fame in 2021.
WAMF takes place at Thunderbird Park, 18 Kaboni Road, Wiikwemkoong on Friday, August 4. General admission is $25. Advanced tickets can be purchased at wikytours.com.
The Wiikwemkoong Annual Cultural Festival is a signature event on Manitoulin Island, drawing the finest dancers and drummers from across Turtle Island to compete for up to $48,000 in pries. The festival welcomes over 10,000 visitors from across the globe to engage in a weekend of cultural activities, including competition powwow, culinary and art vendors, workshops and entertainment.
Among the many highlights of the cultural festival is the Miss Wiikwemkoong Pageant which takes place Saturday morning, the Wiikwemkoong Art Show located at the artist pavilion on the festival grounds, hosted by community artists, and the cultural pavilion, hosted by Wikwemikong Tourism.
The festival will include authentic Anishinaabe crafts, interactive cultural workshops, cultural pavilion experiences, authentic indigenous cuisine, and champion Anishinaabe dancers.
There are community specials with a youth hockey player special hosted by the Trudeau and Kiwenzie families for children and teens vying for cash prizes, both a men’s and women’s traditional special, hosted by Henry Eshkibok, drum roll call special, a woodland special hosted by Wikwemikong Tourism, and several committee specials.
There is also a large list of categories/prize boards from golden age (50 years plus), adult, teen and children categories. There is also a drum competition for cash prizes.
The gates open at 10 am daily, Saturday through Monday, with daily admission being $15 for adults, $5 for children. An adult weekend pass is $30. Children under six and elders 65 and over are free.
For a full list of event details for the Cultural Festival see pages 16-18 of this week’s Expositor. For the WAMF schedule, please see Page 18.
On Sunday, the Wiikwemkoong Wrestling Championship will also take place. See page 2A for details.
