More Information

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Canadian Heritage and its portfolio organizations play a vital role in the cultural, civic and economic life of Canadians. Arts, culture and heritage represent more than $57 billion in the Canadian economy and close to 673,000 jobs in sectors such as film and video, broadcasting, music, publishing, archives, performing arts, heritage institutions, festivals and celebrations.

The Commemorate Canada program provides funding to initiatives that commemorate and celebrate historical figures, places, events and accomplishments of national significance.

Eligible funding recipients under Commemorate Canada include the following:

• Canadian non-profit organizations (corporations, trusts, cooperatives, unincorporated associations, etc.);
• Canadian business corporations, where projects are non-commercial in nature;
• Canadian educational institutions; and
• Canadian provincial or territorial governments, municipal governments, First Nations governments (or equivalent authorities) and other municipal, provincial or territorial institutions of Canada.

Eligible projects must meet the following criteria:

• be of national interest and national or multi-regional in scope;
• include a learning component to increase Canadians’ knowledge of Canada’s history;
• enhance the sense of pride and belonging to Canada;
• provide opportunities for Canadians to participate in commemorative activities and/or celebrations of national significance;
• engage at least one of the following target groups: youth, Aboriginal, Official Languages linguistic minority communities, or, ethno-cultural communities; and
• have obtained financial or in-kind support from other sources (applicant and/or partners).

Heritage Canada selected this proposal (which was put forward by the Rotary Centre for the Arts in Kelowna) as an open call for cross cultural sharing.

The intent of the festival is to offer a platform which welcomes (and compensates) First Nations people from both rural and urban communities across the Thompson Okanagan region who choose to share their art, craft, product, song, dance or performance in the form of a story of their resiliency through covid.

The participants costs will be covered for: 

• Individual presentation space will be available for each participant to promote/sell product, merchandise, story... 
• Professional photos and videos of their participation 
• Honorarium (100% of ticket sales “by donation” are distributed to participants) 
• Promotion of their products/services to a broader audience.
• On a case to case basis accommodation may be provided 
• Per diems while Participating 

 Participants from across the region are invited to apply as limited time and space is available.

This festival warmly and specifically invites involvement and participation of members and leaders from the 31 First Nations communities situated across the Thompson Okanagan Region.

Best efforts have been made to provide invitations that have been emailed to all Nations, friendship centers and administration offices in the region. 

Calls have been placed and social media extended, inviting any partners, planners, volunteers, liaisons, presenters and performers to attend and/or participate in the festival.

Best efforts have been made to include all urban and rural Indigenous people and communities in the region. 

The festival provides a fully funded space and all participation is voluntary. Please support your local Indigenous participants.