Music icon Buffy Sainte-Marie kicks off a host of Indigenous performances at
the Chiefs' House during the 2010 Winter Games

VANCOUVER , Jan. 25 /CNW/ - The Four Host First Nations (FHFN) released today an explosive lineup of Indigenous performers who will take the stage at the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion - or Chiefs' House - during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

Music icon Buffy Sainte-Marie will kick off the nightly performance series with an intimate concert at the Chiefs' House following the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games on February 12, 2010 .

"The Four Host First Nations are proud to present the world's premier Aboriginal performing artists," said Tewanee Joseph, Chief Executive Officer of the Four Host First Nations. "We invite everyone to experience Aboriginal sounds of the 21st century - from traditional to contemporary, including jigs, throat singing, hip hop, rock and roll, folk and the blues."

The Chiefs' House, which is located at the corner of West Georgia and Hamilton Streets in downtown Vancouver , will feature over two dozen traditional and contemporary artists during Olympic Winter Games.

The program, which was put together by Four Host First Nations producer and creative director, Sal Ferreras, includes Team Rezofficial, Kinnie Starr, the Métis Fiddler Quartet, Murray Porter , Mad Eskimo and Joy Harjo , as well as traditional drummers and singers from the Four Host First Nations.

Funding for the 14-night performance series has been supported by the Government of Canada and the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) through the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad.

"The extraordinary spectrum of contemporary and traditional Aboriginal arts and culture to be experienced at the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion will both impress and inspire," said Burke Taylor vice-president of culture and celebrations for VANOC. "Cultural Olympiad 2010 is proud to partner with the Four Host First Nations in presenting this unique dimension of the cultural programming for the Games."

All performances at the Pavilion are free to the public, with admission on a first come, first served basis. Nightly shows begin at 9:30pm and 11:00pm (see below for specific dates and times).

In addition to the nightly performance series, the Four Host First Nations has partnered with Aboriginal groups and organizations from across Canada to present theme days at the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion. These daily cultural celebrations showcase the diversity of Indigenous arts, culture and talents from across Canada and internationally, and feature performers such as Helen Duguay , the Asham Stompers, Cris Derksen , Alex Wells and more. For more information on theme-day programming, visit fourhostfirstnations.com.

    
    Chiefs' House Nightly Performance Series Lineup and Dates

    February 12 - Buffy Sainte-Marie
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 13 - Young at Heart
    Featuring Sister Says and Inez
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 14 - With One Voice
    Featuring Children of Takaya, Garry Oker and Asani
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 15 - String Fever
    Featuring the Métis Fiddler Quartet, the Métis Nation Jiggers, Lee
    Mandeville, Richard Lafferty and Wesley Hardisty
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 16 - Cold Cuts
    Featuring Spakwus Slolem, Ian Ross and Sandy Scofield
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 17 - Plain Talking
    Featuring Soul Paua and Kinnie Starr
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 18 - Globespotting
    Featuring Tjupurru, Adjagas, Kinnie Starr and the Borealis Quartet
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 19 - Independent Power Projects
    Featuring Inez, Bitterly Divine and Tjupurru
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 20 - The North South Dialog
    Featuring Mad Eskimo, Taqralik Partridge, Phillipe Brault and Pacific
    Curls
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 21 - Blues Indigo
    Featuring Murray Porter, Leanne Goose, Shakti Hayes, Jared Sowan and Pat
    Braden
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 22 - The Royal House of Hip Hop
    Featuring Feenix, Team Rezofficial, Ostwelve, Kaiva and Def 3
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 23 - Drums and Voices
    Featuring Valerie Naranjo, Steven Alvarez, Pura Fe and Cary Morin
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 24 - Maximum Exposure
    Featuring Bird Runningwater and Eagle and Hawk
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 25 - Tales and Traditions
    Featuring Coastal Wolfpack, Whitefish Juniors and Meewasin Oma
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 26 - Theatre of the Soul
    Featuring Joy Harjo, Larry Mitchell and Drew Hayden Taylor
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 27 - Crossing Bridges
    Featuring Jason Burnstick
    9:30pm and 11:00pm

    February 28 - The Road Forward
    Commissioned by the Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad
    Created and Directed by Marie Clements. Featuring Pura Fe, Leela Gilday,
    Russell Wallace, Byron Chief Moon, Jennifer Kriasberg, Michelle Olsen and
    Kevin Loring.
    6:00pm - 9:00pm

    Digging Roots
    11:00pm - midnight
    

For more information the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion including show times and artist bios, please visit fourhostfirstnations.com.

About Four Host First Nations - The Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games are being held on the traditional and shared traditional territories of the Lil'wat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil- Waututh First Nations. Together, the Nations have incorporated a non-profit society - the Four Host First Nations - to coordinate their efforts as Official Partners in the planning and hosting of the 2010 Winter Games.

About the 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion - Centered on a 65-foot high inflated multi-media sphere, the pavilion will use the latest technology to showcase the diversity of Aboriginal art, business, culture and sport from across Canada . Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal visitors will enjoy this experience in the relaxed, informal setting of the Pavilion. Located on the plaza of the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in downtown Vancouver , within easy walking distance of BC Place and GM Place, the 8,000 square-foot 2010 Aboriginal Pavilion will be right in the heart of Olympic activity.

For further information: Press Contact E-mail: [email protected], Tel: [phone]