It's finally March, and it feels like the great thaw might finally be commencing. Signs of spring are starting to pop up, like Toronto's Ziigwan Indigenous music and arts festival — a free musical celebration of new beginnings.
Scheduled to take place from March 24 to 26 at Yonge-Dundas Square, the inaugural iteration of the three-day fest will feature performances from Status/Non-Status, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, DJ Shub, Nimkish, noelle, Logan Staats, Julian Taylor, Shawnee Kish, Sebastian Gaskin, Northern Cree, Boogey the Beat, Tia Wood and the Bullhorn Singers.
Ziigwan (pronounced SEE-gwon) is the Anishnaabemowin word for springtime. In that spirit, the event — presented by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund and the Downtown Yonge BIA, in collaboration with ELMNT FM Radio, Red Music Rising and Music Tourism — celebrates seasonal rebirth and the healing power of music, as well as collective reemergence into one of the city's most prominent spaces on the path to reconciliation and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"DWF is thrilled to partner with the Downtown Yonge BIA, ELMNT FM Radio, Red Music Rising and Music Tourism as we celebrate the return of spring with Ziigwan," Sarah Midanik, president and CEO of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, said in a statement. "At DWF, we believe in the importance of bringing communities together to celebrate Indigenous talent through art, music, and culture; these mediums have the power to unite us and it is through meaningful connections that we can further reconciliation."
On March 24, the organization will also be hosting schools and youth from across the GTA for an afternoon of learning about Indigenous history, language and culture — as well as special performances from Artist Ambassadors, DJ Classic Roots, Theland Kicknosway, Strong Water Singers. While this component of the festival has already reached full capacity, schools and individual groups can sign up for the waitlist.
The free concerts begin at 5:55 p.m. ET that evening. See the full performance schedule via the DWF website.
Scheduled to take place from March 24 to 26 at Yonge-Dundas Square, the inaugural iteration of the three-day fest will feature performances from Status/Non-Status, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, DJ Shub, Nimkish, noelle, Logan Staats, Julian Taylor, Shawnee Kish, Sebastian Gaskin, Northern Cree, Boogey the Beat, Tia Wood and the Bullhorn Singers.
Ziigwan (pronounced SEE-gwon) is the Anishnaabemowin word for springtime. In that spirit, the event — presented by the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund and the Downtown Yonge BIA, in collaboration with ELMNT FM Radio, Red Music Rising and Music Tourism — celebrates seasonal rebirth and the healing power of music, as well as collective reemergence into one of the city's most prominent spaces on the path to reconciliation and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"DWF is thrilled to partner with the Downtown Yonge BIA, ELMNT FM Radio, Red Music Rising and Music Tourism as we celebrate the return of spring with Ziigwan," Sarah Midanik, president and CEO of the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, said in a statement. "At DWF, we believe in the importance of bringing communities together to celebrate Indigenous talent through art, music, and culture; these mediums have the power to unite us and it is through meaningful connections that we can further reconciliation."
On March 24, the organization will also be hosting schools and youth from across the GTA for an afternoon of learning about Indigenous history, language and culture — as well as special performances from Artist Ambassadors, DJ Classic Roots, Theland Kicknosway, Strong Water Singers. While this component of the festival has already reached full capacity, schools and individual groups can sign up for the waitlist.
The free concerts begin at 5:55 p.m. ET that evening. See the full performance schedule via the DWF website.
