A Burnaby-based First Nations dance group is featured in the upcoming Talking Stick Festival.
The festival, presented by Full Circle First Nations Performance, celebrates aboriginal art and artists and runs from Feb. 18 to March 2 at venues throughout Vancouver.
Among the performers are the locally based Git Hayetsk Dancers, led in partnership by Mike and Mique'l Dangeli.
The Git Hayetsk are an internationally renowned West Coast First Nations mask-dancing group based in unceded Coast Salish Territory - known today as Vancouver.
Their name means "People of the Copper Shield" in Sm'algyax, the language spoken by the Nisga'a, Tsimshian and Gitxsan nations.
"Their dancers are bonded by their common ancestry and family ties to the Sm'algyax speaking peoples, with distinction in their connections to the Haida, Haisla, Tahltan, Tlingit, Lil'wat, Musqueam and Anishinabe nations," a press release notes.
"The Git Hayetsk challenge themselves to practise the artistry of dance, composition, choreography and regalia-making to the standards of wealth, power and prestige embodied by the copper shield.
"With deep love and respect for their community, the Git Hayetsk draw together their strengths to give life to the songs of their ancestors as well as bring to life new dances to reflect the challenges and victories of their experience as First Nations people today."
The festival incorporates all areas of the performing arts, including theatre, dance, drumming, music, spoken word and multimedia performance.
"Nurturing the talents and providing opportunities for our people to share their stories and have their voices heard has been my objective and passion," said Margo Kane, its artistic managing director.
The Git Hayetsk dancers are onstage at the Roundhouse Community Centre on Feb. 18, in a noon exhibition. They return to the stage on Feb. 27 for an 8 p.m. show, Convergence: Currents of Contemporary Aboriginal Dance II.
Check out www.githayetsk.com for more on the group, or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GitHayetskDancers.
For full details about the festival, including a schedule and a chance to buy tickets, visit www.fullcircle.ca.
