Tribe of One’s Rik Leaf is looking forward to performing on stage in Halifax Wednesday as part of the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network’s seven-hour live show to celebrate National Aboriginal Day.
It’ll be the first time the multidisciplinary group will perform in Atlantic Canada’s largest city.
“We’re so excited. We can’t wait,” Leaf said in a phone interview Monday evening during a layover at Pearson International airport in Toronto, Ont. while on his way to Halifax.
It’s also the first time APTN will broadcast its annual show, Aboriginal Day Live, from eight different locations across Canada on June 21. The other cities include Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Yellowknife, Edmonton and Vancouver.
The live show begins at 8 p.m. AT with radio and television personality Candy Palmater and actor/playwright Dave Jennis co-hosting. The entire two-hour concert in Halifax will also be live-streamed on the network’s website, aptn.ca.
In addition to Tribe of One, other performances for the Halifax concert include pop-rock band Marianas Trench, Rebone band co-founder Pat Vegas, Winnipeg’s Don Amero, Montreal’s Kathia Rock and Saali and the Ravenhearts.
Leaf describes Tribe of One’s show as mostly theatre and dance.
“We’re multidisciplinary so we have a powwow dancer who’s dancing to non-traditional music because it’s a mix of francophone, Metis kind of acoustic world music,” Leaf explained.
Tribe of One’s other members include Marie-Josée Dandeneau, Rob Spade, Scott Senior and DJ Boogey.
Activities planned all day along the Halifax waterfront
APTN has also organized activities for everyone from sunrise to sunset at the Sand at Salter along the Halifax waterfront near Bishop’s Landing. The day begins with a sunrise ceremony.
At 2 p.m., the network will attempt to hold the largest round dance by inviting participants to hold hands at all eight cities at the same time.
Prior to the concert, a pre-concert for emerging artists will begin at 6:15 p.m. Performers include Eskasoni First Nation singer Kaolin Johnson, Illustrated and Wolf Castle.
APTN has hosted the show, Aboriginal Day Live, annually since 2007. The network has previously organized activities and evening concerts in Winnipeg, Man., and a twin stage at another location in Canada.
The network is also making its live seven-hour show available online and on broadcasting on several Indigenous community radio stations across the country.
In 1996, then Governor General Roméo LeBlanc declared June 21 as National Aboriginal Day. The declaration was one of the recommendations made by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples.
A complete schedule of events for Aboriginal Day Live is available online at aboriginaldaylive.ca.
