On March 26th, the RCA will welcome over 40 artists representing various Indigenous communities across BC as part of the Indigenous Resilience Festival. This free, all-day festival will bring Indigenous storytellers, musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs to the Rotary Centre for the Arts in an effort to uplift and celebrate the voices of Indigenous people. We are thrilled that these artists will be sharing their stories with us. 

The festivities will commence at 10:00 AM with a welcoming ceremony and prayer at the Mary Irwin Theatre, followed by an entire day filled with an array of performances, including music, storytelling, dance, and visual art, among other forms of creative expression. Krystal Withakay, a beloved syilx Indigenous artist, will take on the role of MC in the Mary Irwin Theatre, while Dani Lion, the Dakelh Dene & Secwepemc Indigi-pop and hip-hop star, will be the MC in the Sun FM Room. Attendees are encouraged to come and go as they please, enjoying the artists of their choice or discovering new ones. 

Dani Lion aka Danielle Mueller, is a Dakelh Dene & Secwepemc performing artist, audio engineer and music producer based out of Vancouver BC. Fusing her traditional language and   culture into her music, making modern pop, soul music, pop rap & electronica (among many   genres of vibe & choice) with an Indigenous twist. 

Krystal Withakay (spaxwawlm) is of the syilx nation and is from Westbank, BC. She is an independent syilx artist and apprentice knowledge keeper. In sharing knowledge and creating safe learning spaces, Krystal is a life long advocate in holding the syilx practices, language and lifestyle close to her heart.

See what amazing experiences await you at IRF.

Register for free

Some performances and stories may deal with mature issues which include both triumph and trauma-related experiences, therefore audience members may find the strong adult-oriented and emotionally charged subject matter to be sensitive or triggering and not always be suitable for younger listeners.

The Rotary Centre for the Arts respectfully acknowledges that it is located on the unceded, traditional territory of the syilx/Okanagan People.