The Common Ground Project Partners with the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange

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The Common Ground Project and the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange are hosting a series of art and culture workshops looking to bring understanding, acceptance, and friendship among Prince Albert, Saskatchewan’s Indigenous and newcomer communities.

From August 1 to 3, Victor Thunderchild will facilitate workshops educating students in First Nations culture. The students will come evenly from the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre of Prince Albert and from the children of recently settled immigrants working with YWCA Settlement Services. The workshops will be held at the Friendship Centre.

Prince Albert’s Common Ground Project works to bring together First Nations and Métis peoples with newcomers to bridge any gap among them. They work with programming to bring the groups together and realize the commonalities of our shared humanity.

After a successful Phase II pilot project, the Common Ground Project begins Phase III with a fantastic partnership with the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange. This is also part of Artists in Communities, a Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange program looking to support artists working and interacting with small and rural communities across the province.

Thunderchild is well known in Prince Albert as an educator and a traditional dancer with a strong background in First Nations traditional stories and songs. In a fun environment, he will involve the students in the history of First Nations and Métis people, Cree language, and traditional drumming. Prince Albert-based music educator and vocal coach Pamela Cochet will assist Thunderchild.

The Artists in Communities program is possible because ofthanks to the generous funding of the Saskatchewan Arts Board. This project in particular was helped by funding from the International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators as well as in-kind donations from the Saskatchewan Choral Federation. The Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange also thanks SaskCulture for their continued funding and support.

In Phase III, the Common Ground Project is working with the Multicultural Council of Saskatchewan with local partners Prince Albert Multicultural Council, the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre of Prince Albert, and Prince Albert YWCA Settlement Services.

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Join Our Board

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It might seem like it’s far off –– or maybe you just wish it was –– but fall is right around the corner. For us at the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange, this means we’re gearing up for another Annual General Meeting and elections for potential new board members.

The Board of Directors for the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange meets quarterly to help guide the organization. Through four decades of history, it’s been their foresight and care that’s kept us going, and you could be the one to help get us through the next forty years.

If you’re interested, fill out a board application over here. A current board member will get in touch to talk about what’s involved with being on the board for the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange.

Looking forward to hearing from you all soon!

Meet Our Arts Ambassadors

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We’re happy to introduce our new Arts Ambassadors, Ringo and Sarah!

Throughout the summer of 2017, we’re sending these two students across Saskatchewan to events to talk about what the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange does in the province and also to spread art and goodwill.

So far, they’ve made it out to the SaskPower Windscape Kite Festival in Swift Current, the Regina Beach Farmer’s Market, the Festival Francophone Saskatchewan in Pine Lake,  the Creelman Agriculture Society’s Summer Fair, and the Kawacatoose First Nation Powwow.

Coming up, find them at the Gateway Festival in Bengough, the Mid Summer’s Art Festival in Fort Qu’Appelle, the John Arcand Fiddle Festival outside of Saskatoon, and the Bow Valley Jamboree in Oxbow, with more to come. Keep an eye out at any arts festival or cultural event happening now through the end of August in Saskatchewan –– you might just see our Arts Ambassadors!

This program is made possible with funding from the Canada Summer Jobs program through Service Canada. The Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange is pleased to recognize their support.

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We’re Back at the Gateway Festival

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The Gateway Festival in beautiful Bengough, SK has been good enough to have the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange down for the party. In 2017, we’re coming back to present the Pool Stage with one of the best lineups yet.

On Saturday, July 22, come down to see:
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. –– a songwriter circle with Gavin of the Wooden Sky, Ava Wild, Northcote, and Carl of Library Voices
1:45 to 2:45 p.m. –– a songwriter circle with Dan from the Dudes, Kirby Criddle, Marshall Burns, and Piper Burns
3 p.m. –– Northcote
3:45 p.m. –– Megan Nash

Come on out, enjoy the water and some great music, and say hi to our arts ambassadors while you’re at it. For full details on the Gateway Festival, go to their site.

Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange Spearheads Mural Project in La Loche, SK

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Through the month of July 2017, the provincial arts organization the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange is providing an artistic outlet this summer for youth in the northern community of La Loche, SK.

As part of the Outreach program which seeks to bring art to remote and rural areas, the organization has hired artist Josh Goff to work with residents of the community in designing a large mural that will be prominently displayed on Main Street in La Loche.

Since the tragedy at the La Loche Community School in 2016, community leaders have been calling for more opportunities for youth. They will be a special focus in assisting in the design and creation of the mural.

“We are lacking arts programs in this community and this project will be a positive way for our young people to express themselves,” says La Loche educator Holly Toulejour.

Goff will collaborate with community Elders in confirming a final design. The community’s youth will paint the mural itself.

This mural project is part of the Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange’s Artists in Communities program, which is possible thanks to the generous funding of the Saskatchewan Arts Board. This project in particular was helped by funding from SaskTel. The Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange also thanks SaskCulture for their continued funding and support.

The Saskatchewan Cultural Exchange would like to thank the La Loche Community School and the community of La Loche for welcoming and facilitating this project.

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