V'ni Dansi's Madelaine McCallum and Eloi Homier will be joining the festivities at the 5th Annual Aboriginal Celebrations - a block party at 4th and Columbia in Vancouver, happening this Saturday, June 15. They'll be joined by fiddler Keith Hill for what promises to be another fun event! Here's what the organizers say about it (from their Facebook event page - link to that here).

This is our 5th annual celebration, and is an event that arose out of our desire to affirm our First Nations brothers and sisters, and to facilitate stronger friendships between the church and Aboriginal people. This event is particularly pertinent as we approach the end of the national Truth and Reconciliation process in Canada, as well as the national event in Vancouver in September.

This year, our block party will be on Saturday, June 15 from 2-7pm, and will include a salmon barbeque, First Nations dancers and drummers, dignitaries, children’s activities, and artisans’ booths. As in previous years, we will be closing off the entire block between 3rd and 4th avenue on Columbia St., and inviting leaders from the Aboriginal community, churches, neighbours, politicians, and artists to experience an Aboriginal celebration and to consider what deeper reconciliation could look like.

Everyone is welcome! If you are interested in volunteering email: silas@themosaic.org

Below is a rough schedule of the day:

2:00 Welcome to the territories, words of greeting from Delbert Guiren

BBQ

3:30- Welcome from Mosaic and Hummingbird ministries
Introduction of Pow wow Grand entry

3:45- Grand Entry. Dancers led by Leslie Nelson.

Greetings from honoured guests
Libby Davies- MP
Jenny Kwan?- MLA
Words from Drummers

4:00- Cheryl Bear (http://www.cherylbear.com/)
4:30- Metis dancers- Yvonne Chartrand
5:30- Hummingbird singers
6:00- Mark Anthony Jacobson - spiritual ceremony (http://markanthonyjacobson.blogspot.ca/)

6:30 Closing prayer, optional communion and smudge

Find out more about the organizers by visiting their websites: Mosaic and Hummingbird Ministries.