6 days ago
Calling all Indiginerds: Elsipogtog First Nation set to host first ever comic-con event
For the first time ever, Elsipogtog First Nation in New Brunswick will host Elsi-Con — its very own comic convention.
The event promises something for everyone and was developed by Susan Levi-Peters, who came up with the idea while supporting her daughter, a digital artist.
"People are really excited about this," said Levi-Peters.
For years, Levi-Peters and her family have sold crafts and art at East Coast Comic Expo, a comic convention based in Moncton, N.B., to help fuel her daughter's creative passion.
Through attending these events, Levi-Peters found herself inspired by the welcoming and creative community.
"It'd be two days of us forgetting about everything and enjoying life," she said.
"I wanted our whole community to experience the comic convention in Moncton, instead I brought it home."
The result is Elsi-Con, a historic full day event packed with excitement hosted in Elsipogtog, a Mi'kmaw community 90 kilometres north of Moncton.
Levi-Peters said she believes the cosplay aspect will be a big hit in Elsipogtog.
"The most popular day in Elsipogtog is Halloween because Indians just love to dress up, people in Big Cove [Elsipogtog], anyway," said Levi-Peters.
"I know they're gonna go all out."
To help bring this vision to life, Levi-Peters connected with Scott Tingley and Brad MacDonald, two organizers of East Coast Comic Expo, during the show this past June.
Tingley said lot of ideas with different organizations have come and gone, with nothing coming to fruition.
But mere hours after mentioning the idea in June, Levi-Peters had the venue, Chief Young Eagle Hockey Arena, and security already booked.
"The fact that it's the first time being done here was the selling feature for us," explained MacDonald.
"That's historic."
The duo said their Moncton-based expo draws in crowds of thousands to the area, and hope Elsi-Con will be the same.
Support comes in
East Coast Comic Expo is helping Elsipogtog organizers with the basics in organizing with the hope that the community will be able to grow this event in the future and become self-sufficient.
"We absolutely don't have all the answers, but we know a lot of the right questions," said Tingley.
Kylie Francis, Elsipogtog's recreation manager, is being trained in skills like hiring talent, organizing vendors, organizing artists and managing finances.
"Everything is just falling into my lap," said Francis.
"They're training me to continue [Elsi-Con]."
Francis said she is especially excited to showcase talented artists from Elsipogtog, who haven't had the opportunity to take part in something like this before.
"We're really excited to get them to come out and open up their vendor booths or just to show their art and their creativity," said Francis.
"This is a space where they can feel safe and have fun."
Susan Levi-Peters, said because of her community's support, she is confident the day-long event will go well.
"Once they know how it is, they're gonna love it," she said.
Elsi-Con is slated for Sat., Aug. 23 and is open to all. Organizers say they are still accepting vendor and sponsorship applications.
