Aboriginal Pavilion: A ‘do not miss’ Pan Am celebration

By Laura Robinson

If you have any chance of getting to Toronto between right now and the end of July, check out the extraordinary talent at the Parapan Games Aboriginal Pavilion. Just head down to the bottom of Bathurst St to Fort York. Sometimes you can hear the drumming as you make the 5 minute walk west. At these games where measures have been taken to reduce carbon footprints, there’s no parking except for bikes so two-wheel it or take the Bathurst St streetcar—whatever you do, don’t miss the daily line up of great artists.

Opening night on July 18 was a super-charged sampling of what was to come. The show, which is free and under the big white tent, started with the Tonantzin Aztec dancers of Mexico who brought greetings through dance and music because the 2011 Pan Am Games had taken place in Guadalajara. With the sound of the conch shell, pre-contact clay flute and rattles we knew there this would be an evening never to be forgotten. On stage the Aztecs met with the Mississauga of the New Credit, on whose land the fort was built, and then—wow—the show began. With each new dancer the earth vibrated that much more; with each drummer the air filled with new heartbeats….a gathering of peoples of Turtle Island that simply should not be missed.

Artists from the Arctic—the Tuktoyaktuk Siglet Drummers and Dancers – who do a mean Eskimo high-kick (this alone is reason to attend the Pavilion) and hip-hop throat singer Nelson Tagoona of Baker Lake who has infused contemporary music and traditional throat singing to create new sounds and meaning, defining who he is as a young Inuk man, to Anishinaabe territory and Nipissing’s own contemporary choreographer Penny Couchie founder of dance troupe Aaanmitaagzi, whose dancers in just five minutes moved the audience to tears with an excerpt from her “When Will You Rage” piece, did far more than entertain. They pushed, as real artists do, to see way beyond the obvious, to read between lines, see nuance, irony, pain, hope, power and strength.

But there’s much more going on at the Aboriginal Pavilion. Artisans, crafts people and chefs abound. I bought a mean strawberry and basil compote from Mnopgwad Preserves, walked over to the food tent for a bannock and combined these riches. Kept me going all evening. There’s boxing with former world champion and Anishinaabe boxer Mary Spencer, there’s urban poling to get that upper body engaged, you can even try the Eskimo high kick yourself as our visitors from Tuktoyaktuk guide you there. Workshops on language, beading, soccer and too much more to list happen regularly so check out the daily schedule: http://www.alppavilion.ca/daily-shedule.html

Concerts run from 7-11pm and all are free.  Nadjiwan plays at the Main Stage Tuesday, July 21 evening, joined by other Aboriginal greats.  Thursday, July 24 evening is dedicated to women singers Cheri Maracle, Ulali, Leela Gilday and Susan Aglukark.  Crystal Shawanda stars on Saturday, July 25 and on Sunday, July 26 – because of the Games’ closing ceremonies, she’s on with others from 3-6pm.