sākihiwē festival Brings Live Music Back to Winnipeg's Core

The sākihiwē festival is ready to bring families together in Treaty 1 Territory, Winnipeg’s core with a lineup featuring award-winning and emerging Indigenous artists.

Taking place June 23 - 26, this year’s programming features over 25 performers, including two ticketed concerts and four block parties. sākihiwē festival once again connects live music with Indigenous communities through partnerships with Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, the Spence Neighbourhood Association, Indigenous Vision for the North End, Central Neighbourhoods Winnipeg, and the West End Cultural Centre. 

The festivities ignite June 23 with Re-Opening Night at the Pyramid Cabaret featuring acclaimed touring artists Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Tia Wood, and Drives the Common Man.

On June 24, Grand Entry will feature performances by sunsetto and 2022 JUNO Award winner Fawn Wood, along with a conversation about climate change with Eriel Deranger from the Indigenous Climate Action Network.

The free and family-friendly IVNE Block Party, Central Park Block Party, Turtle Island Block Party, and the Spence Neighbourhood Block Party x Ellice Street Festival will be held throughout the weekend. 

There will be plenty of chances to catch performances by artists from Manitoba during the four-day festival, including singer and hand drummer Darryl Buck, music legend Ernest Monias, singer/songwriter Gator Beaulieu, fiddle player Morgan Grace, singer/songwriter Sherri Shorting, woman's traditional big drum group Southern Thunderbird Medicine Drum, cover band The Mixx, rock outfit Venus Mantrap, Walking Wolf Singers, and JustTV featuring Kara Kohut, Georges Munga, Destiny Wilby, Jace Bodner, and more.

"We're super excited to bring the sākihiwē festival back this summer," says Alan Greyeyes, Festival Director for the sākihiwē festival, in a release. "We learned a lot about the Internet and Zoom during the last two years, but we didn't get to see grandmothers dancing at our block parties or those moments when Indigenous kids realize that stereotypes don't hold any truth, so it's going to be pretty big for our team, our partners, the performers, and the families we serve." Read more about this year's festival

SCHEDULE

Re-Opening Night
Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Tia Wood, Drives the Common Man
Thursday, June 23, 9:00 pm - 2:00 am
Location: Pyramid Cabaret, 176 Fort Street
Tickets $20 plus fees (purchase tickets)
Photo identification required, Proof of vaccination required, masks recommended

Grand Entry
sunsetto, Fawn Wood
Conversation about climate change with the Indigenous Climate Action Network
Friday, June 24, 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm
Location: TBA
Tickets $10 plus fees (purchase tickets)
Families welcome, Proof of vaccination required, masks recommended

IVNE Block Party
Partner: Indigenous Vision for the North End
Miss Chief Rocka (hoop dance), Hayley Wallis, Ryan Richard, Gator Beaulieau, Morgan Grace
Saturday, June 25, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Selkirk Avenue, between Andrews Street and Powers Street
Concert at 1:00 pm, free BBQ at 2:00 pm, prize draw at 6:00 pm
Free, Families welcome, masks recommended

Concert schedule:
1:00 pm: Morgan Grace
2:00 pm: Ryan Richard
3:00 pm: Hayley Wallis
4:00 pm: Miss Chief Rocka (hoop dance)
5:00 pm: Gator Beaulieu

Central Park Block Party
Partner: Central Neighbourhoods Winnipeg
Miesha and the Spanks, sunsetto, Ashley Ghostkeeper, Thunderbirdz, and JustTV featuring Kara Kohut, Georges Munga, Destiny Wilby, Dalia Ruiz-Holt, and Jace Bodner
Saturday, June 25, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Central Park, 366 Qu'Appelle Avenue
Concert at 1:00 pm, free BBQ at 2:00 pm, prize draw at 6:00 pm
Free, Families welcome, masks recommended

Concert schedule:
1:00 pm: Thunderbirdz
1:45 pm: JustTV featuring Kara Kohut, Georges Munga, Destiny Wilby, Dalia Ruiz-Holt, and Jace Bodner
3:00 pm: Ashley Ghostkeeper
4:00 pm: sunsetto
5:00 pm: Miesha and The Spanks

Turtle Island Block Party
Partner: Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre
Tia Wood, D-Town Steppers, Venus Mantrap, Walking Wolf Singers, Southern Thunderbird Medicine Drum, Pow Wow Club
Sunday, June 26, 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre, 510 King Street
Pow Wow at 12:00 pm, concert at 2:00 pm, free BBQ at 2:00 pm, prize draw at 6:00 pm
Free, Families welcome, masks recommended

Concert schedule:
12:00 pm: Pow Wow demonstration
3:00 pm: Venus Man Trap
4:00 pm: D-Town Steppers
5:00 pm: Tia Wood

Spence Neighbourhood Block Party x Ellice Street Festival
Partner: Spence Neighbourhood Association, West End Cultural Centre
Ernest Monias, The Mixx, Sherri Shorting, Miss Chief Rocka (hoop dance), Darryl Buck
Sunday, June 26, 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: Ellice Street, between Sherbrook Street and Langside Street
Concert at 1:00 pm, free BBQ at 2:00 pm, prize draw at 6:00 pm
Free, Families welcome, masks recommended

Concert schedule:
1:00 pm: Darryl Buck
2:00 pm: Sherri Shorting
3:00 pm: The Mixx
4:00 pm: Miss Chief Rocka (hoop dance)
5:00 pm: Ernest Monias

This event is an MB Live partnered event. For more info about MB Live, visit manitobamusic.com/mblive. For more info about partnership, please visit manitobamusic.com/partnerships.