Singing together helps us learn, and has brought us together for a very long time

CLASSICAL MEETS TRADITIONAL: Betty Wilson and the Tla’amin Singers perform the pole blessing for the 2014 Choir of the World Totem Pole (carved by Craig Galligos) This pole was awarded for the Choir of the World recipient: the St. Stanislav Youth Choir in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Kathaumixw returns to qathet one year from now: July 2023. Photo by Dan Thompson.

BY THE STAFF AT THE PR ACADEMY OF MUSIC

Our collaboration with the Tla’amin Nation began in 1982 with the planning of the first International Choral Kathaumixw. Kathaumixw is an ʔayʔaǰuθəm word meaning “a gathering together of different peoples” and was gifted to the festival by the Tla’amin Nation.

Over the years the Kathaumixw organizing committee and Tla’amin Nation have jointly created major new works for choir, soloists, orchestra, actors and dancers based on Tla’amin legends and music including (1992) *kahm kwu e7 tlaukw hahm kwu e7 metl (May the Skies be Clear May the Waters be Calm) by British Columbian Tobin Stokes. The festival has also commissioned Salish Suite for choir, orchestra and First Nations drummers. This piece was performed in the “Great Hall” and in the Texada Island limestone quarry during Kathaumixw 2006 and subsequently aired on Knowledge Network and the Bravo Channel. Scenes from Nootka, also by Tobin, was commissioned for Kathaumixw 2008. It features six soloists, chorus, and orchestra, and in ten scenes tells the story of Captain Cook’s first encounter with Indigenous peoples in Welcome Cove on Vancouver Island.

Kathaumixw showcases and shares local Indigenous art throughout the world. The festival Thunderbird logo is an original design created for the festival by local artist William D. Finn. The Thunderbird is the supreme bird of all birds. Tla’amin myths explain that the Thunderbird created land for man to stand upon, and that he sits on the mountain tops, spreads his wings, and protects all. The theme has been carried through to our trophies. A unique Thunderbird pin is presented to every conductor who has brought a choir to the festival.

In 2014 and 2016 totem poles created by Tla’amin carver Craig Galligos were awarded and transported to the home countries of the winners of the Choir of the World competition, Slovenia and Hong Kong. A third pole now resides at the Powell River Academy of Music where the names of each of the winners of the Choir of the World are engraved on plaques.

Each year the festival opens with a welcome prayer by a Tla’amin Elder and a performance by traditional dancers and singers. Over the years we have enjoyed dance presentations by brother and sister Maureen and Evan Adams and Susan Pielle. Tla’amin vocal soloists Cheyenne Dominic and Ta’Kaiya Blaney have been featured.

The festival is a project of the Powell River Academy of Music.

We have been honoured to collaborate with our Tla’amin friends and recognize our relationship and contributions to the City of Powell River being among the first Canadian communities to establish equal and parallel governmental and economic agreements between Indigenous and settler communities, with The Community Accord and the Protocol Agreement on Culture, Heritage and Economic Development between the City of Powell River and Tla’amin Nation.