The Baker twins are coming home for a special event at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park.
These fashion and film stars are from the Stellat'an First Nation at Fraser Lake, and were born in Prince George. They are the special guest emcees for the National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebrations at the park on June 21.
They will also be part of the Heatwave-Celebrate Cultures Festival at Canada Games Plaza on June 22. The two events are linked.
"We also have Cree chainsaw carver Randy Gauthier from Moberly Lake and Saltwater Hank joining us all the way from his new home in Haida Gwaii," said Kym Gouchie, organizer of the event.
"Also joining us on June 21 at the LTN Memorial Park will be Doris Munger and the Old Fort Traditional Dancers, the Khast'an Drummers, Thundering Eagles, Tazzy Fraser, The Northern Outlaws, Ivan Paquette, The Vegabonds and many other talented Indigenous performers."
The Heatwave component of the three-day music and culture festival will have two of B.C.'s most acclaimed First Nations performers coming in for concert appearances: George Leach and Laura Grizzlypaws fresh off her recent win at the 2019 Indigenous Music Awards.
Presiding over the festivities are international Aboriginal superstar sisters that Gouchie is excited to see back on stage in their home region.
"Shannon and Shauna are identical twins from the Stellat'an First Nation," she said.
"They currently live in Los Angeles, California and are excited to be able to have this opportunity to come home and celebrate with us. They are actresses, models and fitness enthusiasts. We are so excited to have them join us."
Gouchie listed a number of additional cultural features at National Indigenous Peoples Day in the park like food vendors, artisans, information booths, on-site carving, a teepee, a cottonwood canoe display, childrens activities and games, an elders' tent, and more. Not all of these features are specifically derived from Lheidli T'enneh history, but as has been the case for millennia, this is a connection community where other cultures are welcomed and their own customs honoured.
To pass this ancient knowledge and fun onwards, workshops will be held at an on-site pavilion.
They include medicinal plants and medicines with Crystal Kennedy, drumming and singing with the Khast'an Drummers, Dakelh language and stories with Edie Frederick, and beading with Lynette La Fontaine.
Schedule of events
11 a.m. Opening ceremonies
11:15 a.m. Khast'an Drummers
11:35 a.m. Tazzy Fraser
11:45 a.m. Mona Rock
12:05 p.m. Northern Outlaws
12:35 p.m. Thundering Eagles
1:05 p.m. Sabina Dennis
1:20 p.m. Doris Munger & the Old Fort Traditional Dancers
1:45 p.m. Moose Calling Contest
2 p.m. Arilynne Vegeer
2:15 p.m. Jason Frederick
2:30 p.m. Saltwater Hank
3 p.m. Kasandra Turbide
3:15 p.m. Ivan Paquette
3:30 p.m. Vegabond
4 p.m. Closing remarks and Round Dance
7 p.m. Activities shift to Canada Games Plaza for Heatwave Festival events
