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What will happen on the waterfront at 9:30 a.m. Thursday

NEWS RELEASES SAULT STE. MARIE TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS ECHOES DRUM FESTIVAL ************************* Tribal delegates to make historic canoe trip across St.
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NEWS RELEASES

SAULT STE. MARIE TRIBE OF CHIPPEWA INDIANS

ECHOES DRUM FESTIVAL

************************* Tribal delegates to make historic canoe trip across St. Mary's River

WHO: Sault Tribe Chairperson Aaron Payment will accompany board members Lana Causley and Cathy Abramson, along with other members of the St. Mary's River Anishnaabeg Joint Commission in a historic canoe trip across the St. Mary's River located in Sault Ste. Marie.

WHAT: The canoe trip will kick off the Aboriginal Days Celebration and Echoes Drum Festival to be held in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. The four-day celebration is scheduled from June 21-23.

WHERE: The canoe will depart from the George Kemp Downtown Marina next to the Museum Ship Valley Camp in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. A return trip is also planned and is to be announced. The destination is the Roberta Bondar Pavilion and City Marina in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

WHEN: Thursday, June 21 (Approximately 9:30 a.m.)

WHY: To signify the efforts of both American and Canadian Tribes in the area of protecting and preserving the Great Lakes. To recognize the Jay Treaty and the right of both American and Canadian Tribes to freely trade and travel across state, province, and international borders.

Article III of the Jay Treaty declared the right of aboriginal peoples (people indigenous to Canada and/or the US) to trade and travel between the United States and Canada.

************************* Press release

The fifth annual, three-day, Echoes Drum Festival of Sault Ste. Marie is happening in partnership with the Bawating Cultural Circle in two locations.

The first day of Thursday, June 21 will take place at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion and the next two days, Friday, June 22 and Saturday, June 23 will be at Clergue Park.

Early activity is a sacred fire and sunrise ceremony beginning at 5:30 a.m. at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion site.

A historical re-enactment of the river crossing, by canoe, will take place at the Roberta Bondar Pavilion approximately 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 21 at the waterfront, prior to the opening of the three days.

Prayers will be done in four languages and a teaching by an elder on how the river was used by aboriginal people.

Chiefs of Garden River, Batchewana and the Missanabie Cree and supporters of those communities will be on the shores to welcome the canoeists.

Everyone is welcome!

The event is a riverside celebration of the summer solstice expressed through the music of percussion (mainly drums of the world) and dance.

It is an opportunity to showcase a myriad of cultures, educate and build tolerance, understanding and harmony with the community, country and the world.

The public is invited to come out and enjoy three days of professional performances, informal drumming circles, demonstrations and learning experiences in an outdoor open tent.

The majority of performances are free with the exception of Yakudo, where the show will be at the Day's Inn – Crown room, on Friday, June 22, at 8:15 p.m. and the drum painting workshop on the grounds on Friday as well.

The public is invited to come out and enjoy 3 days of professional performances, informal drumming circles, demonstrations and learning experiences in an outdoor open tent.

Performers include:

Yakudo – Japanese drummers, Mocombo, Cuban style drumming, Cree Soul Women, singing, using chant combined with contemporary music, Missanabie Cree Cloggers, Don Kelly, aboriginal comedian, Ted Longbottom, Metis fiddler and story teller, Blarney, Irish drum group, Wasaayskun, duo of singing and guitar playing, Sean Jesseau and Jeff Stewart, drum circle facilitators, Bhang Lassi, jembe makers and drummers, Wabanaisee (Mount Pleasant, Michigan) and Healing Lodge Singers, women hand drummers and singers, Pride Drum Group, Aboriginal youth singers, drummers and dancers from Bay Mills, Michigan, John Causley, storyteller from the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Akwagummi, Aboriginal male drummers and singers, Turtle Concepts, youth displaying confidence performance, Yoga Door belly dancers, Taoist Tai Chi demonstration and Patricia Wynter, a professional dancer.

Other activities will include an educational trail, organized into four zones for school children, Drum Painting Workshop by two Cree artists, “Film in the Park” event featuring Touch the Sound film at the Art Gallery, Sunset Drum Circle also taking place at the Art Gallery, Mystic Messages – labyrinth blanket, Feasts on two days and Vendors.

The 2007 Echoes Drum Festival and Bawating Cultural Circle volunteer team is assisted by Fresh Start (Ontario Presentor’s Network), City of SSM, Kiwanis, Mushkegowuk Council, Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie Museum, USWA Local 2724, Day’s Inn, Miramar Design Studio, Royal Bank of Canada, Island View Camp, Missanabie Cree First Nation, Metis Nation of Ontario, Metis Nation of Ontario, Indian Friendship Centre, Turtle Concepts, Sault College, Sault College Native Education Department, Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians Culture Committee, Garden River First Nation, Batchewana First Nation, Missanabie Cree First Nation, Island View Camp, Miikkana, Quality Inn, and a myriad of volunteers.

Even as the press release goes out there are still more sponsors coming in.

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David Helwig

About the Author: David Helwig

David Helwig's journalism career spans seven decades beginning in the 1960s. His work has been recognized with national and international awards.
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