The Sākihiwē Festival's Central Park Block Party and its Indigenous Marketplace was held on June 30, 2024.
The Sākihiwē Festival’s Central Park Block Party was held on June 30, 2024. The highly-successful festival saw hundreds turn out to catch Manitoba’s best First Nations, Inuit and Red River Metis talent take centre stage in downtown Winnipeg.
The festival’s mission is to bring music to Indigenous families in divested neighborhoods, ensuring they can engage in the arts without compromising their family responsibilities, personal safety, or financial stability. Additionally, it aims to be a launch pad for emerging Indigenous artists and a stepping stone for mid-career or export-ready artists seeking further support. In fostering these platforms for Indigenous talent and culture, the sākihiwē festival not only celebrates music but also serves as a vital act of cultural preservation and empowerment.
The sākihiwē Festival is made possible with funding and partnerships with the Canada Council for the Arts, Manitoba Arts Council and Winnipeg Arts Council, the Spence Neighbourhood Association, Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, and the City of Winnipeg. The sākihiwē summer series is made possible by partnerships with the Assiniboine Park Conservancy, Treaty One Nation, the Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization of Manitoba, the North Point Douglas Women’s Centre, the Central Community Incentives Program, the Winnipeg Art Gallery, and the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport. We really enjoyed being able to attend, and to meet so many of the incredible and inspiring artists, musicians and cultural connectors.
We can’t wait to visit this incredible festival again next year!
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