Indigenous party and free concert coming to St Catharines this week

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Published June 19, 2023 at 11:36 am

A free concert by First Nations hip hop group Snotty Nose Rez Kids will be the highlight of the night on June 21 when St. Catharines holds Indigenous Solidarity Day on June 21. (Photo: Marc De Vinci)

A free concert by multi-award-winning First Nations hip hop group Snotty Nose Rez Kids will be the highlight of the day when St. Catharines holds Indigenous Solidarity Day on June 21.

That free show is just one of many being presented by St. Catharines and the Niagara Regional Native Centre (NRNC) at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre (250 St. Paul St.) as part of the Indigenous Solidarity Day this week.

“Indigenous Solidarity Day is an opportunity to celebrate our culture and rich traditions, with the Indigenous and non-Indigenous community,” said NRNC Interim Co-Executive Director Jessica Riel-Johns.

“Community events such as Indigenous Day provide the opportunity for our non-Indigenous community to come learn about our culture, heritage, traditions, and ceremonies and take important steps to learn and walk together. As an Indigenous person, I celebrate my culture every day, but Indigenous Day is a day to celebrate with other Indigenous people all over Canada to celebrate and embrace our culture.”

Students from the District School Board of Niagara and Niagara Catholic District School Board will have the opportunity to participate in a question-and-answer session with Snotty Nose Rez Kids. The award-winning group is from Kitimat, B.C. and is of Haisla (Indigenous) decent.

An Indigenous Artist Vendor Market will be open to browse starting at 4 p.m. at the arts centre. At 5:30 p.m., the doors will open for the evening performance for the local Indigenous talent showcase.

The show, which begins at 6 p.m., features Ol’Child Band at 6:15 p.m., Low Animal at 6:55 p.m. and Pappy Johns at 7:35 p.m. Snotty Nose Rez Kids will be performing between 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

Tickets are free for the evening concert, however, they must be reserved online due to the venue’s seating capacity. All tickets are general admission and seating is first-come, first-served.

St. Catharines will be waiving parking fees at all lots and meters (garages and permit lots excluded) on June 21.

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