Are you Ready for Spirit Song 2024?
Join us for the annual Spirit Song Festival, a celebration of Indigenous arts & culture that has lit up St. John’s since 2013!
Now a multi-day experience, Spirit Song features world-class performances, artist residencies, and knowledge-sharing that blend tradition with modern creativity.
The festival invites everyone—Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike—to celebrate Indigenous brilliance, build connections, and share the rich diversity of art & creativity.
Event Schedule
Tuesday, November 19, 2024 ▶
🎨🚪 Artisan’s Market
Unlike any weekly market, this event brings together some of our community’s most talented Indigenous artisans, offering unique creations you won’t find anywhere else.
Featured Artists: Various Artists
Location: St. John’s Farmer’s Market (245 Freshwater Road)
🎤 Opening Ceremonies
Join us for the opening ceremonies of Spirit Song Festival with opening prayers from our community Elders. Then, kick off festival celebrations with a bang with incredible musical performances!
Featured Artists: Misty Manifest, Marjorie Muise, Emma Reelis, Wape’k Muin, St. John’s Mi’kmaw Women’s Circle,
Elizabeth Penashue, Summer Bennett, & Mason Dicker
Location: First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity (81 Cochrane Street)
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
📘 Dance, Yoga & Improvisation
Join us for a dance workshop that features ways to move energy and feel like your better self through yoga & improvisation.
Featured Artist: Christine Friday
Location: First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity Event Space (42 Bannerman Street)
📺 Online: Artist Talk
Tune into our virtual artist talk.
Featured Artist: Melissa Francis
📘 Meet & Greet: Kayla Stride
Got burning questions about raku and pottery? Come meet Kayla and ask!
Featured Artist: Kayla Stride
Location: The Rooms (9 Bonaventure Avenue)
🎨🚪 AtaKatigejut (Intertwined)
Art Exhibit Reception: AtaKatigejut (Intertwined) celebrates the interconnections between land, people, and wildlife.
Featured Artists: Billy Gauthier, Juliette Onalik, Stephanie Brant, and Shannon Case
Location: Eastern Edge Gallery (72 Harbour Drive)
🎤 Labrador Rock Night
Join us and enjoy an evening of music from the Big Land.
Featured Artists: Silver Wolf Band
Location: First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity (81 Cochrane Street)
Thursday, November 21, 2024
📘 Beading Workshop
Join us for a beading workshop where participants will make beaded baseball caps!
Featured Artist: Stacey Burke
Location: Eastern Edge Gallery (72 Harbour Drive)
📺 Online: Artist Talk & Performance
Tune into the virtual artist talk, and enjoy a musical performance.
Featured Artists: April Allen and Kilautiup Songuninga
📘 Oopik Workshop
Learn how to make sealskin owls in this hands on event!
Featured Artist: Mina Campbell
Location: First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity Event Space (42 Bannerman Street)
📘 Art for Joy’s Sake
Celebrate pure creative expression at our Artist Panel.
Featured Artists: Jenelle Duval, Jordan Bennett, Samaqani Cocahq, Kayla Stride, and Nelson White
Location: The Rooms (9 Bonaventure Avenue)
🎤 One Sky: Artist Showcase
Join us for a beautiful evening of music and dance.
Featured Artists: Kayla Stride, Christine Friday, Becca Sharr, Kwanita Drew, Jenelle Duval, and more!
Location: LSPU Hall (3 Victoria Street)
Friday, November 22, 2024
📘 Art from the Big Land
Experience the raw beauty and spirit of Labrador at our Artist Panel.
Featured Artists: Billy Gauthier, Juliette Onalik and Amy Norman
Location: Eastern Edge Gallery (72 Harbour Drive)
📺 Online: Mini-Doc – Elders in Residence
Tune into the mini doc to hear about First Light’s Elders in Residence program.
Featured Artists: Various Artists
🎨🚪 Tekweywinen tel weljesultiek (Be with us in our joy!)
Art Exhibit Reception: An interactive and play-based exhibit showcasing works of Indigenous artists.
Featured Artists: Jenelle Duval, Jordan Bennett, Samaqani Cocahq, Kayla Stride, Mi’sel Joe, Calvin White,
and Kwanita Drew
Location: The Rooms (9 Bonaventure Avenue)
🎤 Friday Film Night
Join us for a screening of impactful documentaries. Featuring the Forgotten Warriors and CBC’s Aunt Nellie’s Legacy.
Featured Artist: Noel Joe
Location: LSPU Hall (3 Victoria Street)
Saturday, November 23, 2024
📘 Carving Workshop
Unleash your creativity in this hands-on carving workshop.
Featured Artist: Billy Gauthier
Location: Eastern Edge Gallery (72 Harbour Drive)
🎨🧸🚪 Spirit Song Playdate
Family playdate at the ‘Be With Us in Our Joy’ exhibit.
Featured Artist: Jordan Bennett
Location: The Rooms (9 Bonaventure Avenue)
📘 Powwow Dance Workshop
Join us for a workshop where participants will learn basic steps of Powwow dance and practice Powwow dancing skills!
Featured Artist: Becca Sharr
Location: First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity Event Space (42 Bannerman Street)
🎤🧸🚪 Spirit Song Drag Storytime
Celebrate love and imagination at Drag Storytime!
Featured Artists: Misty Manifest and Fashionista Jones
Location: The Rooms (9 Bonaventure Avenue)
📘 Raku Firing Workshop
Experience the thrill of fire and clay in our Raku Firing Workshop.
Featured Artist: Kayla Stride
Location: First Light Centre for Performance and Creativity Event Space (42 Bannerman Street)
🎤 Big Ticket: Tanya Tagaq
Don’t miss the electrifying grand finale of the festival – a Big Ticket Concert Event filled with epic performances, unforgettable beats, and pure celebration!
Featured Artists: Tanya Tagaq and Kilautiup Songuninga
Location: The Johnson Geo Centre (175 Signal Hill Road)
Festival Schedule
❯
Artist of Distinction Award
This award is presented by Spirit Song Festival to celebrate an Indigenous artist who has had significant positive impact in the Urban Indigenous community in St. John’s over time.
2024 – Solomon Semigak
SOLOMON SEMIGAK has been a champion of sharing and teaching Inuit culture for many years, and his teachings have played a profound role in cultural revitalization and preservation for the community, individuals, and families. The impact of his generosity, patience, and wisdom will be felt for years and generations to come. We are honoured to name Solomon Semigak as the 2024 Spirit Song Artist of Distinction. Join us in honouring Solomon at Spirit Song Festival opening on Tuesday, Nov 19!
We extend a warm invitation to individuals from all communities to engage with us, embracing the opportunity to learn and share from each other. In certain situations, we may prioritize events for Indigenous individuals to ensure the preservation of their cultural heritage.
It is our policy to refrain from policing identity; rather, we encourage our members to be respectful and understanding of each other’s unique perspectives and experiences. We ask that individuals approach our community with honesty and authenticity, staying true to their personal journey.
