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The Adventure Zone

Past stories The Calgary Stampede Moraine for Life Adventure Relay Monarch Redux Rockies Bird Festival Arctic Winter Games Bolivia's Acotango Mount Kilimanjaro The Drambuie Pursuit Canadian Aboriginal Festival Mountain Mania Adventure racing Manitoulin Island Star Party Celebration of Light Algonquin Park Ottawa Race Weekend Maple syrup festival Cain's Quest Have Snowshoes, Will Travel Quebec Ice Hotel In the Eye of the Storm Arctic Aurora Borealis Canada's 'Deep South' Agawa Canyon Ablaze Mahone Bay Boat Festival Vancouver Island's rocky trail Wild Women Expeditions Eco-Endurance Summiting Canada Gourmet getaway Yukon Arctic Ultra Canadian Wind Riders Winnipeg's urban pathways Canoeist/artist Bill Mason Take a hike Whitewater kayaking The 2005 Sea Cavalcade Moonstruck - Adventure racers Delta Marsh Birding Festival Climb for conservation The Eagle has Landed Gold Rush Trail Whistler Film Festival Fit to ski Whyte Museum of the Rockies Cheakamus Challenge "Super Dave" Norona Ontario's French River region Cabot Trail Relay Race Point Pelee Festival of Birds Canmore Ice Climbing Festival Winterlude Yeti Mountain Snowshoe Series Golden Horseshoe Orienteering Club Banff Mountain Book Festival Haliburton Highlands Sand Sculpture Championships BC Mobility Society Bathtub Race Championship Bike Month Running off the road Birds of a Feather Grand Plans in Grand Cache Le Festival du Voyageur Raid Ukatak Around the World Alone November culinary adventure Mountains in Miniature In the Belly of the Dragon Raid the North Extreme!! Making a splash! Volunteer for nature Cycling for sustainability Working for Wildlife Whale of a time Canadian Death Race Mont Tremblant Skiing Nanook of the North Eco-challenge Climate Change Caravan Royal Regatta Unleash the hounds World Cup mountain bike race Yukon River Quest On top of the world Canada's World-Class Heritage Gliding across the silver screen Marathon Madness National Ski and Snowboard Week Christmas Bird Count Banff Festival Adventure racing Coast-to-coast trek Whitewater rodeos In praise of parks Watching Canada's wildlife Canada's Highest Peak Alaska Adventure Racer

Photo Copyright ©2007 Indian Art-I-Crafts

Photo Copyright ©2007 Indian Art-I-Crafts

In a joyful celebration of First Nations culture and tradition, the Canadian Aboriginal Festival opens its doors at Toronto’s Rogers Centre on Friday, November 30, 2007, for a weekend-long event that organizers anticipate will draw 40,000 visitors from all over the continent.

Food, fashion, the performing and fine arts, workshops and an opportunity to meet with native elders — the Canadian Aboriginal Festival has much to offer. Now in its 14th year, the Canadian Aboriginal Festival was originally founded as a showcase for native cultures by the non-profit Indian Art-I-Crafts of Ontario. Since then, it’s become an exciting annual destination for teachers and students, musicians, dancers, artisans and athletes of all ages and backgrounds. Friday is Education Day, when elementary students and teachers visit 30 teaching stations around the centre. It’s a chance for young Canadians to learn more about the country’s founding civilizations in a positive and engaging environment. Aboriginal instructors offer guidance on First Nations, Inuit and Métis cultures through such topics as crafts, games, language and storytelling. Also on the agenda are demonstrations of hand drumming, pow wow dancing and lacrosse, in which visitors can participate.

Friday evening marks the ninth edition of the wildly popular Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, which honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers who safeguard the dynamism and diversity of Aboriginal music. Playing everything from traditional music to rock, country, blues and hip hop, these musicians are among the top artists in the country.

Photo Copyright ©2007 Indian Art-I-Crafts

On Saturday and Sunday, visitors are treated to the sights and sounds of Aboriginal talent in music and dance appearing on three separate stages, while one-of-a-kind crafts, clothing, jewellery, sculpture, fine art and food are all on sale in the market. Over the course of the weekend, three Pow Wow competitions are scheduled, each of which begins with a dramatic Grand Entry where hundreds of dancers in full traditional garb enter the arena to the vibrant sound of pounding drums. It’s an emotional ceremony that many regard as the festival’s high point.

It’s also a joyous gathering place for family and old friends, where the beat of the drum, the brush of feathers and the clatter of beads draw an eloquent and dramatic portrait of the people who were here from the start.

For more information about tickets and events, visit www.canab.com