National Indigenous Peoples Day: A Celebration of Culture, Music, and Art

Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day with a free afternoon of music, culture, and community at the Victoria Conservatory of Music.

Admission is free and all are welcome. Donations will be accepted at the door, with proceeds supporting local Indigenous organizations and initiatives.

The Victoria Conservatory of Music is located on the traditional lands of the Songhees, Esquimalt, W̱SÁNEĆ and Beecher Bay Nations, where we are privileged to learn, work, and perform.

Entrance at 900 Johnson Street.

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About the Workshops

Workshops will include learning an ancestral song, Métis jigging, a youth-led Bone Game, a collaborative beat and lyric cypher, and presentations of music videos created by students from Craigflower Elementary and the ȽÁU, WELNEW Tribal School.

• 12:00pm: Welcome and opening with Bradley Dick in Alix Goolden Performance Hall (All welcome)
• 12:30pm to 2:30pm: Anthem Ancestral Song with Francis Dick
  Online Registration Required

• 1:00pm to 2:45pm: Collaborative beat and lyric cypher workshop with Nikky Ermineskin (Nikky E.) in Wood Hall (All welcome)
• 1:45pm to 2:45pm: Métis Jig: Basic and Fancy steps with the Joyful Jiggers
  Online Registration Required

• 3:00pm: Show & Share in Alix Goolden Performance Hall (All welcome)

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Bios

Bradley Dick (Yuxwelupton Qwal’ qaxala)

Yuxwelupton Qwal’ qaxala (Bradley Dick)  is of Lkwungen, Mamalilikulla and Ditidaht ancestry. Bradley is married to Jennifer Chuckry and has three beautiful children Shayla (and granddaughter Kaydence aka Granny), Dakota, and Cienna. All are of Cree ancestry. He also has an Australian shepherd, Cy the family guy.

Bradley is a contemporary artist who enjoys working collaboratively with his brothers Clarence Dick Jr., Fabian Quocksister, and his dad Butch Dick carving ceremonial poles that adorn City hall and the Songhees Wellness Centre. Bradley has been doing commissioned works for well over 20 years and has artworks all over the world as far away as New Zealand, England, Norway and Sweden. He has sold numerous drums and carving locally, focusing on designs based on his family teachings and culture.

His works consist of original paintings, small and large carvings, contemporary designs on shoes and hats. He also creates collaborative paintings with his wife Jennifer that reflect her Cree ancestry as well as Bradley’s west coast influences. These works have been sold privately throughout Vancouver Island and Bradley is sure there will be more works to come.

Francis Dick

Born in 1959 into the Musqamakw Dzawadaenutw Band (the four tribes of Kingcome Inlet), Francis Dick is a contemporary Native artist and a member of the Kwakwaka’wakw Nation. She is a descendant of the supernatural Wolf, Kawadelekala, who became the first of the Kingcome people.

Francis Dick is an integral member of the native art community, and is frequently requested to speak for various community organizations, women’s groups and university classes. She has been invited to speak as a guest lecturer as far away as Europe and has had native art exhibitions all around the globe, including China and the Middle East. Francis’ native art has been exhibited in various art galleries and museums, including a permanent exhibit at the Ethnological Museum in Berlin. Her aboriginal paintings, as well as articles and interviews, have been published in books, calendars and magazines all over North America, Asia and Europe.

Although Francis Dick’s primary forms of artistic expression have been her aboriginal paintings, prints and singing, she also works with gold and silver, and is an accomplished writer and performer of native ceremonies.

Nikky Ermineskin (Nikky E.)

Nicole “Nikky E” Ermineskin is a nêhiyaw mother, interdisciplinary digital media artist, mentor, youth worker, recording and performing artist, stage manager, and event organizer.

With a diploma in audio engineering and production, she has spent over 22 years carving her path through the many facets of the music and arts world — from hosting radio shows and organizing community events to videography, frontline Indigenous resistance media/journalism, and pursuing her childhood dream of becoming a professional recording and performing artist.

Displaced from her traditional homelands, Nikky grew up in East Van, where she fought through systemic challenges and oppression to walk the creative and cultural path she’s on today. Her work is deeply rooted in inspiring Indigenous youth to follow their dreams, share their stories with the world, and stay grounded in Indigenous culture, language, and ceremony.

Joyful Jiggers

The Joyful Jiggers–Abigail Porttris and Piper Bresser–are two high energy Métis youth that share their love for Métis jigging with audiences in Greater Victoria and beyond. Both dancing since the age of four, Piper and Abi bring passion, enthusiasm, and a deep love for sharing Métis culture to their performances.

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Venue Accessibility

The 900 Johnson Street entrance is wheelchair accessible at street level. There’s a drop-off zone out front, elevator access inside, and several accessible washrooms, including a gender-neutral washroom.

For priority seating or other accommodations, contact us in advance.

For full details, visit vcm.bc.ca/plan-your-visit