Fanshawe celebrates First Nations arts and culture

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Explore First Nations culture through art, music, dance and more. The Indigenous Music, Arts and Culture Celebration will take place in Forwell Hall on February 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Andrew Judge, a Fanshawe instructor who's helping to organize the event, said it's being held as part of Fanshawe's First Nations Studies program's community outreach initiative. “Not only are we using this opportunity to generate more interest in the First Nations Studies program major, but we also are trying to give back to our community who supported us from the start.”

An elder will start the event at 10 a.m., followed by Nimkii nini (Thunder man), who will perform a hand drum song and hoop dance, which is a storytelling dance that uses hoops to create different shapes and symbols.

At^lohsa Native Family Healing Services Inc. will be making some Three Sisters Soup for lunch at 11:30 a.m. “The Three Sisters is corn, beans and squash,” explained Judge. “They're planted together in gardens and they form a symbiotic relationship. I did a food and medicine garden at Western and we planted these. They grew amazingly.”

After lunch finishes, world-renowned musician David Maracle will perform a concert. “David's going to play instruments from around the world, including a Hang.” A Hang is a shell-like instrument made in Switzerland that produces an otherworldy sound. Maracle will also have a large carving on display.

“Everyone's welcome to come out and try the soup and to get to experience the evolution of our culture to its present,” Judge said.

Don't miss the Indigenous Music, Arts and Culture Celebration in Forwell Hall on February 12.