First fest for First Nations
Aboriginal community set to party at inaugural Manito Ahbee Festival
Jen Zoratti

The words ‘Manito Ahbee’ mean ‘where the creator sits.’ They also refer to a sacred spot in the Whiteshell, a place to teach and learn.

It’s a fitting name for a festival that’s setting out to do a little teaching of its own.

The Manito Ahbee Festival is a four-day celebration of aboriginal music and culture, and it features five different events: the International Competition Pow-wow, Education Day, the Indigenous Marketplace and Trade Show, the Music Festival, and the Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards.

Errol Ranville, executive director of Manito Ahbee, is thrilled that a large-scale festival dedicated to aboriginal arts is finally becoming a reality. The event has been in the works for nearly two years after a need was identified in the aboriginal community.

“It goes back to 2004, during a series of round-table discussions with artists and artisans,” Ranville says. “The thing that always came up was a need for a banner festival, an annual festival that focused on aboriginal arts and culture. Manitoba has the largest aboriginal community yet we have no banner festival like Festival du Voyageur.”

The APCMAs will be the flagship of the weekend, and the gala awards show will pass out trophies to winners selected by the fans. Aboriginal artists from across the country were offered the chance to submit their work, and online voting began in early September. An impressive 109 artists submitted, and over 5,000 people made their picks.

“It turned out much bigger than anticipated,” Ranville says. “Most award shows, like the Western Canadian Music Awards and the Junos, are adjudicated. This one allows people to get involved. Instead of eight judges we have 5,263.

“As far as the awards are concerned, our mission was not just about awards but about developing artists,” Ranville continues. “The website (www.manitoahbee.com) has become a resource and a database for people to access aboriginal artists.”

Even though you might have worn your voice out at the Western Canadian Music Awards, Manito Ahbee is offering up another weekend of musical acts to check out. Famed B.C.-based folksinger Art Napoleon, Winnipeg blues quartet South Thunderbird and Grammy-nominated Winnipeg rapper Fresh I.E. are just some of the performers taking the stage at the festival.

But the weekend is about more than just music. The International Competition Pow-wow will be one of the largest in North America, with $150,000 in prize money to be awarded; the Trade Show is an excellent chance to check out some unique local and international artwork, clothing and crafts; and Education Day will expose Manitoba’s young people to elder teachings and workshops.

“It’s a way to share the culture,” Ranville says. “We want to engage the non-aboriginal public. Anyone can hold a festival, but we wanted one that would teach people.”

The young fest has already seen its share of successes — and it hasn’t even started yet.

“We have a four-year plan on the table now, and plans to grow the awards show,” Ranville says. “Everything we’ve set out to do has happened, and beyond our expectations. The Education Day is entirely booked up, and we sold all the booths at the Trade Show. To see it be this successful already is a nice feeling.”