The highly anticipated Adäka Cultural Festival is set to return for another exciting celebration of Indigenous heritage and creativity. Scheduled to take place from June 28 to July 1, 2024 at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, this year's festival promises to be an unforgettable experience for attendees of all ages.
Presented by the Yukon First Nations Culture and Tourism Association (YFNCT) and the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre, the Adäka Cultural Festival will showcase the rich and diverse cultures of Indigenous peoples from across Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Alaska. Through a vibrant array of performances, workshops, artist demonstrations, and cultural presentations, the festival offers a unique opportunity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous visitors to connect with and learn from Indigenous traditions and perspectives.
"We are thrilled to announce the return of the Adäka Cultural Festival," said Robin Chambers, Executive Director, YFNCT. "This year's event will feature an exciting lineup of performers, visual artists, and cultural presenters, highlighting the resilience, creativity, and beauty of Indigenous cultures."
Festival attendees and artists alike will have the opportunity to share, purchase unique artwork, and enjoy in four-days of culture. Don't miss your chance to experience the magic of the Adäka Cultural Festival!
Friday, June 28 - Adäka Opening Ceremony
Join us for the opening night of Adäka 2024 as we celebrate coming together in a good way, with performances by the Rising Sun Singers, Dakhká Khwáan Dancers and Jasmine Netsena.
Saturday, June 29 – Adäka Amped!
A night of powerful performances that will set your soul on fire! Come witness musicians that have made their own footprint on Indigenous music and continue to rise up. Featuring performances by Edzi’U, Bria Rose N’ Thorns and Northern Haze, a metal / rock band from Igloolik, Nunavut.
Sunday, June 30 – Aunties Under the Midnight Sun (*ticketed event)
Join us for a night of entertaining performances bringing a unique blend of traditional drumming, singing and comedy. With performances by Mayo drumming group Remmi Elin and traditional round dance singer Fawn Wood.
Strap in for a wild night of comedy with your favorite twisted Aunties. Join us for some laughs with the sharpest tongues and the wittiest minds, where the humor is as dark as your niece’s burnt bannock and twice as biting. Get ready for a night of razor-sharp punchlines and stories that will leave you laughing until your face and ribs hurt. You won't want to miss this unforgettable evening of side-splitting humor under the Yukon’s summer light!
Tickets for this event are $25 and can be purchased here.
Monday, July 1 – The Good Time Community Dance
Get your moccasins ready for some jigging! This audience favorite event will feature fiddlers plus the quick-footed Teechik Dancers from Old Crow! This community dance, featuring old style and contemporary fiddlers, is guaranteed to put a smile on your face and a spring in your step.
Gallery –Take in high-quality Indigenous visual arts and crafts created by over 80 Indigenous visual artists from across Canada and displayed in the professional 2,300 square foot gallery.
Artist Studio Tent – Connect with the cultural community as you observe and interact with visual artists transforming raw materials into beautiful works of art in the massive artist studio tent. Mingle in this informal shared creation space, and learn first-hand about artists’ materials, techniques, and inspiration in both traditional and contemporary styles.
Cultural Presentations – Immerse yourself and gain deeper understanding in these presentations from Indigenous artists, knowledge keepers, scholars. The range of topics includes reconciliation, traditional knowledge, history, storytelling, cultural revitalization, fashion and more.
Yoga and River Walks - Adäka is pleased to offer complimentary opportunities to move your body and re-connect with nature.
Workshops – Sign up for some of the 20+ arts workshops tailored to beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. There will be public workshops available, as well as some that will center Indigenous artists as participants, as they network and learn advanced skills from each other.
Go For Literacy Bus – Families are welcome to visit the Family Literacy Centre’s Go for Literacy bus for arts and crafts, free books, play, and more!
Volunteer opportunities
The Adäka Cultural Festival is currently seeking volunteers for June 26 to July 3. Volunteers are needed for hospitality, set up and take down, transportation, logistics, front of house, security, gallery sales, and more. For more information and to sign up, visit adakafestival.ca/volunteer.
Give with Intention
Support from the business community, organizations, and Yukon First Nations governments is crucial for the ongoing success of the Festival. Partners can decide which of the four intentional giving circles align with their support best: community, connect, life, or grow.
If you’re interested in partnering, please contact Shania Noksana at adaka.sponsorship@yfnct.ca.
To learn more about how to give with intention, visit: adakafestival.ca/sponsors.
A big thank you to Adäka’s funding partners and supporters, including the Government of Canada, Yukon Government, Canadian Heritage, Canadian Council for the Arts, Lotteries Yukon, Neighbourly North and Air North, Yukon’s Airline.