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The 15th annual Rubaboo Arts Festival kicks off Friday, its name using a Métis-Michif language word meaning a rich stew filled with all good things.
From Friday through July 28, Indigenous programming — including a new play by Josh Languedoc unpacking the oral stories of Amik and his journey to become the next best dam builder — will fill the fest with teachings and wonder.
This year’s festival theme is a warmly declared, “You Are Loved.”
“Our audiences will see, hear and feel themselves reflected in Rubaboo 2024,” says executive director Christine Sokaymoph Frederick, “through the incredible art, music, performance, dance, plays, panels and workshops that will celebrate and honour who we are as Indigenous Peoples.”
The opening reception is 8 p.m. Friday, featuring soul singer Cikwes and activist and actor Michelle Thrush — featured in TV’s Little Bird, Fargo, Blackstone, North of 60 and films Dead Man, Prey and Bones of Crows.
Other confirmed guests and performers include Hey Viktor! mastermind Cody Lightning, actor Ryan Cunningham, dance artist Arik Pipestem, producer-musician Joshua Jackson, “nehiyaw Gwicgin show pony” Shir Modesty and playwright Andreas Moreno.
Our Young Ancestors: A Fusion Experience especially amplifies the overall theme of the fest by honouring individuals no longer with us — the late Troy Emery Twigg, Taran J. Kootenhayo and Bishop Pipestem, young people who were a key part of the Rubaboo family.
This happens 8 p.m. Saturday at Brighton Block (4th floor, 9666 Jasper Ave.), while Languedoc’s Amik Tales is 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at Workshop West Playwright’s Theatre at 8529 Gateway Blvd.
And 9 p.m. next Friday is the You Are Loved Dance Party, also at Brighton Block.
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