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Cision Canada
3 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Government of Canada supports Tlingít cultural revitalization in Yukon
Government of Canada supports the Carcross/Tagish First Nation's Haa Ḵusteeyí celebration of language and community, honouring Tlingít culture. CARCROSS, YT, July 29, 2025 /CNW/ - For Indigenous communities, the act of gathering ais about more than tradition; it is a way to ensure language, culture, history and sacred bonds with the land are able to thrive and grow stronger. Brendan Hanley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs and Member of Parliament (Yukon), announced a $95,000 investment in support of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation's Haa Ḵusteeyí celebration, a gathering of Tlingít communities from across the Yukon, British Columbia and Alaska, held from July 24 to 26, 2025. He made the announcement at the gathering's opening ceremony, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages. The Carcross/Tagish First Nation received $50,000 through the Development component of the Canada Arts Presentation Fund. The investment helped support the celebration's artistic program, which featured more than a dozen traditional and contemporary dance, drumming, storytelling and musical performances that reflect the histories, identities and living traditions of participating Indigenous nations. The Carcross/Tagish First Nation also received $45,000 through the Events component of the Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program to deliver a series of inclusive, hands-on cultural workshops and youth engagement activities. Haa Ḵusteeyí featured Elder-led workshops on seal-skin moccasin making, hide tanning, cedar hat weaving and carving, among other topics. They encourage intercultural connection and intergenerational sharing of cultural knowledge. The celebration brought together more than 3,000 people, to honour Tlingít language and traditions through storytelling, dance, ceremony and shared learning. Quotes "Haa Ḵusteeyí is a beautiful celebration of Tlingít culture and a living expression of Indigenous tradition and identity. It also allows Canadians to build meaningful relationships, rooted in reconciliation. Our government is proud to invest in programs that advance reconciliation, honour culture, preserve language, and sustain cultural teachings and knowledge. Events like this allow all of us to build meaningful relationships rooted in respect and walk the path of reconciliation together." —The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages "I was deeply honoured to be invited to the Carcross/Tagish First Nation for Haa Ḵusteeyí. It was profoundly moving to see how communities sustain the rich and vibrant traditions of the Tlingít people through language, culture and teachings. Having chosen to call the Yukon home for more than three decades, I am proud of our government's commitment to Haa Ḵusteeyí. It's a clear demonstration of reconciliation in action." — Brendan Hanley, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Northern and Arctic Affairs, and Member of Parliament (Yukon) "Haa Ḵusteeyí is an important biennial celebration of Inland Tlingit culture, but this year has been a difficult one. In such times in our history, Haa Ḵusteeyí has continued. We have upheld this tradition in proudly hosting Haa Ḵusteeyí 2025 and by bringing our ancestors with us through ceremony, by offering a fire plate each evening and keeping a sacred fire burning throughout the celebration. I thank our Carcross/Tagish First Nation citizen and Haa Ḵusteeyí coordinator, Nicole Welin, and her team for skillfully meeting many challenges. Through their work and the support of many volunteers and major sponsors, like the Department of Canadian Heritage, Haa Ḵusteeyí 2025 has been a success." — Maria Benoit, Haa Sha du Hen (Chief), Carcross/Tagish First Nation Quick Facts The biannual Haa Ḵusteeyí is a Tlingít cultural gathering that rotates between host First Nations in the Yukon and British Columbia. The gathering allows Tlingít people to come together, actively use their language and contribute to the revitalization and preservation of Tlingít heritage and culture in their communities. Haa Ḵusteeyí (pronounced Haa Khoo-s-tee-yee) means "our culture" or "Tlingít way" in the Tlingít language and its roots date back centuries. This traditional gathering was revived by Elders in 2005. The Canada Arts Presentation Fund supports organizations that professionally present arts festivals or performing arts series as well as organizations that fund arts presenters. The Development stream supports emerging arts presenters and presenter-support organizations that focus on underserved communities or artistic practices. The Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program's Events component helps fund community-based events that promote intercultural or interfaith understanding, promote discussions on multiculturalism, diversity, racism and religious discrimination, or celebrate a community's history and culture. Carcross/Tagish First Nation Multiculturalism and Anti-Racism Program SOURCE Canadian Heritage
CBC
3 hours ago
- CBC
'The show must go on': Honey Jam turns 30 amid financial challenges
Social Sharing A Toronto-based non-profit celebrating a milestone this year says they are facing a significant shortfall that could put the program in jeopardy. Launched in 1995, Honey Jam has mentored young emerging Canadian female artists with workshops, educational programs, vocal and performance coaching, and opportunities to perform and network in a safe space. Honey Jam will celebrate its 30th anniversary on Wednesday with a special concert at Massey Hall showcasing 17 Canadian artists. The program's founder and executive director says the anniversary reflects the community's determination and perseverance. "I don't know of any other program like what we're doing that's free, that's non-profit, that is women-centred, and part of why it was started as women-centred 30 years ago was to create a safe space," said Ebonnie Rowe. However, Rowe says the milestone comes during a financially challenging year for the program due to U.S. President Donald Trump's dismantling of DEI initiatives and tariffs. She says she committed to doing the anniversary concert at Massey Hall before the U.S. elections, without knowing that the expenses would rise and some of her usual sponsors would back out due to economic uncertainty. 'Forever sisterhood without the traveling pants' But the show must go on, Rowe says. "You don't get to 30 years if you're the type of person who gives up and says 'boohoo' and goes and cries in a corner, so the show must go on. I need all those tickets sold, though, so I'm not washing dishes at Massey Hall for 20 years," she said. She says that while the future of Honey Jam as it exists in its current iteration is at risk, the sisterhood is forever. "It's the forever sisterhood without the traveling pants," she said. "We will have our website, our socials, and our social media platforms forever." WATCH | Honey Jam alumni talks about how program impacted her: Honey Jam offers mentorship for women in the music industry 4 years ago Honey Jam alumni include Nelly Furtado, Jully Black, Lu Kala, Melanie Fiona, Savannah Ré, and Haviah Mighty. Rowe says seeing her alumini's growth makes her feel like a "proud momma." "I don't have any children of my own, so I feel very protective, and when I'm scrolling through social media, I literally have whiplash at 'oh my God, you're doing what? You won that award? You're touring with who? You're going to Paris for what?' So I'm very, very proud of all that they've accomplished," she said. Alumni says program was a personal growth Alternative soul artist Fafiélla is one of Honey Jam's alumnus. She says she joined the program in 2022, and it was a great opportunity to connect with other women in the industry. She says the program was a "personal growth" for her, and she still applies the lessons she learned from it in her career. "Having that mentorship and guidance really showed me that I have to communicate and I have to be very strict and stern on my boundaries, my standards, what I offer, my value," said Fafiélla. Losing the program would be a huge loss, she says. "Honey Jam is a women's space. It's for a female artist. I think losing such a big platform in the city that supports women of colour or women at all in the music industry would be a huge loss," said Fafiélla.
CTV News
13 hours ago
- CTV News
When moose took over Toronto: Artists reflect on city art project, 25 years later
As people around the world welcomed a new millennium, Torontonians in the year 2000 were welcoming something even bigger – a herd of hundreds of life-size moose statues. Twenty-five years ago, Toronto launched its Moose in the City campaign, a project featuring 326 colourful moose statues decorated by artists and placed all over the city in an effort to usher in the new year with a boost for local tourism and art sectors. The project came at no cost to the city, according to council minutes from April 2000, and the statues were sponsored by various companies. The public could stumble upon the hoofed, herbivore masterpieces at locations including the CN Tower, Pearson Airport and city hall. Some of the artists involved say the project was emblematic of the city's culture and shows how municipalities can step up to support the art scene — even as some of the famed sculpted creatures have disappeared in the years since. Moose in the City was a 'great collaboration with the city' for artists, said Kelly Borgers, who was commissioned to do three of the statues. There was even a launch party for the project, with music and a sculpture parade. 'All the moose were all together. We pushed them on wheels down the street like a stampede,' she recalled. Borgers said she produced three statues: Park Moose, Driving Moose Daisy and Florence Moosingale. She's not sure what happened to the first two – decorated with nature scenes and granny glasses, respectively – but Florence lives in the city's midtown outside the headquarters of a home care agency. Lee Grunberg, the president and CEO of Integracare, said Florence used to get Valentine's Day cards addressed from another moose that's perched on the roof of a house in nearby Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. 'The people that bought these moose, they love the camaraderie of owning these moose,' Grunberg said. Borgers likes to drive by and see Florence once in a while, she said, and knowing her art is still out there 25 years later brings her joy. 'She's always dressed up in all different costumes, for Valentine's Day, for Easter, for Christmas, for Canada Day,' Borgers said with a laugh. 'It's awesome. I'm proud of my moose. She has a better wardrobe than I have.' Borgers said the project was symbolic of the fun to be had in the city, and it 'lightened things up.' 'I just think it had a good sense of humour, that was nice,' she said. 'Nobody saw moose and frowned.' Lindsay Davies, who is based in Aurora, Ont., said the project gave her and other artists a chance to 'show their thing.' Davies was commissioned by Belinda Stronach, daughter of billionaire businessman Frank Stronach, to paint a moose statue to look like former Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph. The statue was complete with a jersey, hockey socks and a detailed goalie mask covering the moose's snout. It was placed in front of the Hockey Hall of Fame. 'I just felt totally honoured and absolutely thrilled where it ended up downtown on Front Street,' said Davies. Despite reports at the time of moose vandalism — including alleged antler thefts — Davies said she'd love to see the city do a similar project again, especially given the participants' diverse art styles. 'It's just wonderful, and it's very inspirational,' said Davies. 'I think the public in general really benefits from something like that.' Davies said her moose was auctioned for $25,000 that went to charity shortly after the project. Though she said she doesn't know where Curtis Joseph Moose is today, she theorizes he's somewhere in Little Britain, Ont., after a local bakery took ownership years ago. Toronto-based artist Teri Donovan said George Cohon, the founder of McDonald's Canada, brought up the public art idea with then-mayor Mel Lastman, who became very interested in the project and stood behind it. Donovan said she got involved after a friend sent her a brochure about the campaign and she ended up creating two sculptures: the Bay Street Moose and the Strawberry Moose with Whipped Cream. 'It was really an interesting thing to do. It had its challenges, of course, but in the end, it was a lot of fun,' she said. She isn't sure about the fate of her two moose, although she discovered through online research that the Bay Street sculpture was missing. There were controversies surrounding the project, she recalled. The quality of some sculptures was not very good, she said, and critics complained that the statues were not actually art. 'But it wasn't supposed to be high art, it was supposed to be a fun project for the city,' she said. Donovan remembers her neighbours and their kids routinely checking on the progress of one of her moose creations as she painted it in her driveway. 'I live in a quiet neighbourhood in the east end of Toronto and there isn't a lot of that kind of thing that happens here,' she said. Donovan said Moose in the City was a draw for tourists and it also helped raise money for charities as some of the moose were auctioned off. Laurel Brooks still has the moose her family purchased at auction and moved to their Muskoka cottage, where it stayed until 2012. She said her daughter and ex-husband initially wanted to get Tourist Moose, with a hat and a camera around her neck, but the bidding for that one was 'pretty competitive.' They ended up getting a moose built by Toronto District School Board students, she said. After separating from her ex-husband, Brooks brought the moose back to Toronto where it now sits on an elevated platform in her backyard. The sculpture, too big to fit through the garage or the side of the house, had to be hoisted and moved with ropes, she said. It's made of paper-mache, with layers coming off over the years, and has been repainted with red flowers that look like poppies. 'I just really liked it,' Brooks said with a laugh when asked if the hustle of moving the moose back and forth was worth it. 'It's just a cool thing to have.' With files from Fatima Raza. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 29, 2025. Sharif Hassan and Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press
