Yukon festivities would not be complete without comedians Grandma Suzi and her boyfriend Cache Creek Charlie, aka Sharon Shorty and Duane Aucoin from Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Crystal and I stumbled across Yukon’s Adaka Festival last year when we took a three-day jaunt to Whitehorse. We were so pleasantly and enthusiastically surprised by all the festivities at the event that we made it a point to attend for the entire week this year, though with the intention that we would bring other Chilkat and Ravenstail weavers with us – and that we did!
Entrance to the Kwaanlin Dun Cultural Center on the banks of the mighty headwaters of the Yukon River in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
This festival was held June 21 through June 27, 2013. The Adaka Festival is kind of like the Alaska Folk Festival in that it runs for a week, it is entirely free, it consists of talented performers, teachers, artists, supporters, volunteers and administrators all coming together to pull off this huge event! Though one of the main differences is that the artists, performers and teachers are all First Nations people mainly from Yukon, some from British Columbia, elsewhere in Canada, and a couple of ’em from Alaska (I being one of the two.)
Yukon Jack (and his band) are a long-time favorite of Yukonians – they played some of my most favorite spaghetti westerns, ballads and western rock-n-roll !
The performers are all First Nation professionals working in contemporary and traditional genres including rock n-roll bands, traditional song and dance, fiddlers, rap singers, soloists and R&B, just to name a few.
There were daily workshops including but not limited to, drum-making, carving a paddle, Chilkat and Ravenstail weaving, skin-sewing, beadworking, mocassin-making, and singer-song writing.
Check out Adaka’s website for more information and lots of pictures.
Female members of the local Native dance group, Dahka Kwaan, led by Marilyn Jensen originally from Carcross, Y.T.
I am amazed at the amount of talent that is up in this Northern part of the continent, and that there is even a Native event like this. Do we have a Native event that comes close to this in Alaska? I don’t know. Maybe the Native Arts Festival held in Anchorage and the one held in Fairbanks – but are those still happening? (Sorry folks, we cannot compare this event to the Alaska Federation of Natives – that’s like comparing apples to oranges…!)
William Wasden, a traditional singer and composer from Alert Bay, B.C., graced the audience with his booming voice and strong presence.
This event is unique, that’s all there is to it. I wouldn’t travel all the way from Alaska (or even Colorado for that matter), to attend this event on an annual basis, but folks, that’s what I intend to do. And someday when my grandkids are old enough, I’m taking them with me.
Joe Migwans instructs his students on how to glue the two ends of the hoop together
Using clamps to secure the glued seams…!
Much like Celebration and the Alaska Folk Festival, this event is like a big family reunion where friends, relatives and fellow artists and musicians come together annually and have a great time just being together!
Copper smith Brian Walker, weaver Ann Smith, Carver/silversmith Wayne Price and multi-media artist/weaver Clarissa Rizal pose for a “one-of-these-days-this-photo-will-be-famous” shot.
Come on out to the Adaka Festival next year always starting on June 21st; there is quite the mixture of old and new, young and old, rough and tough, and all that stuff! Mark it on your calendar for a time when the sun doesn’t set and nor do its people!