City of Torontl revently issued the following announcement.

The City of Toronto announced the full program for the four-day Indigenous Arts Festival at Fort York National Historic Site. Produced in partnership with the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation, the festival will begin with a flag raising on National Indigenous Peoples Day on Thursday, June 21 and will continue through to Sunday, June 24. This year's festival will showcase more than 30 performances by Indigenous artists from across Canada and will feature traditional and contemporary music, dance, theatre, storytelling, visual arts, crafts and food.

The festival offers Indigenous culture education programming for students from across the Greater Toronto Area on June 21 and 22, culminating with a weekend of free celebrations including the Na-Me-Res Toronto’s Annual Traditional Pow Wow, Indigenous Day Live hosted by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) and performances on the TD Main Stage presented by the Red Ride Tour. Leslie McCue, Mississauga, Ojibway from the Curve Lake First Nation, is the Artistic Curator for the 2018 Indigenous Arts Festival.

"Each year, the Indigenous Arts Festival energizes Fort York with powerful traditions and compelling contemporary creations by Indigenous artists," said Mayor John Tory. "It is an opportunity to celebrate the significant contributions of the 35,000 Indigenous Canadians who live in Toronto today."

“It will be the singers, the dancers, and the artists who decide the future of our world," said Chief Stacey Laforme, Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. "The arts bridge the gaps, connecting people on an emotional and spiritual level and transcends boundaries of culture and language.”

"TD is proud to present The Indigenous Arts Festival to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day and recognize some of the best known Indigenous Canadian entertainers and artists," said Andrea Barrack, Vice President of Global Corporate Citizenship at TD Bank Group. "Through TD's The Ready Commitment, we are dedicated to ensuring that we are connecting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to deepen knowledge of Indigenous cultures."

On June 23, APTN will host Indigenous Day Live, Canada's largest national celebration in recognition of Indigenous Peoples' accomplishments through cultural activities and live music. A live national broadcast on APTN will feature concerts in Toronto, Winnipeg and Ottawa.

On June 24, the TD Main Stage will feature performances presented by the Red Ride Tour, including:

• Modern rock singer and songwriter Kristi Lane Sinclair

• Anishinaabe experimental-electronic producer Ziibiwan

• Hip hop duo and electronic dance music recording artists Mob Bounce

• Multi-award-winning Anishinaabe singer-songwriter Ansley Simpson

• Award-winning producer and DJ Classic Roots accompanied by dynamic hoop dancer Rhonda Doxtator

• Musical partners Raven and ShoShona, known as Digging Roots.

More festival highlights are available at toronto.ca/IAF.

"The Indigenous Arts Festival attracts thousands of people every year," said Councillor Michael Thompson (Ward 37 Scarborough Centre), Chair of the City's Economic Development Committee. "Thanks to the support of our partners and sponsors, residents from across the city can celebrate and participate in multidisciplinary Indigenous culture in Toronto."

The Indigenous Arts Festival is produced by the City of Toronto in partnership with the Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation. The festival is presented by TD with financial support from the Government of Canada, the Ontario Cultural Attractions Fund and Tim Hortons.

Note to media: Interviews with artists and spokespeople can be arranged by contacting Justine Palinska at Justine.Palinska@toronto.ca or 416-395-7318.

Fort York National Historic Site is one of 10 Toronto History Museums operated by the City of Toronto. Since 1793, Fort York has been an important military location and is where Toronto was founded as an urban place. Located in the heart of downtown Toronto, this 43-acre site is home to Canada’s largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings. Fort York offers permanent and temporary exhibits, ongoing programming and events, site tours and more. Fort York is also home to the first phase of The Bentway. More information is available at toronto.ca/fortyork.

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