
Folkfest at 40 marks National Indigenous Peoples Day with announcement of 2019 Honourary Ambassador
Saskatoon Folkfest announces that Tribal Chief Mark Arcand has been selected as the Folkfest Honourary Ambassador for the 40th annual festival. Tribal Chief Arcand is a member of the Muskeg Lake Cree Nation located in Treaty Six Territory and resides in Saskatoon. Elected to the role of Tribal Chief of the Saskatoon Tribal Council in October 2017, he has dedicated his work to reversing residential school effects through restoring cultural education and nourishing the gift of each child.
“It is a privilege to have Tribal Chief Arcand as the 2019 Honourary Ambassador,” said Dr. Jay Kalra, President of the Saskatoon Folkfest Board of Directors. “His efforts
towards bridging the gaps between the Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal communities speak to the core mandate of Folkfest, enriching the understanding of the diversity of cultures, taking pride in sharing cultural traditions and coming together in harmony.”
“In the Spirit of Truth and Reconciliation and as we move together to continue to build relationships and the Quality of Life for all people, it is my honour to represent the seven communities of the Saskatoon Tribal Council as we welcome visitors to the 2019 Saskatoon Folkfest,” said Tribal Chief Mark Arcand.
Since 1980, Saskatoon Folkfest has produced a three-day multicultural festival celebrating cultural diversity and community building. Folkfest’s Honourary Ambassador is selected by the Board of Directors through a nomination process. These dedicated individuals reflect the universal spirit of Folkfest and have shown exemplary commitment to enhancing the quality of life in their community. With a combined history of over fifty pavilions, one hundred thousand volunteers, and one million passports Folkfest is proud to have been a part of your community for decades.
Established in 1982, the Saskatoon Tribal Council (STC) has transcended from a two-person operation into a successful tribal region located in the treaty six territory. The seven member communities join to form a governing body to set the vision and strategic direction of STC programs and services. Each member community is an autonomous nation governed by its own Chief and Council, laws and customs. Collectively, STC represents approximately 13,000 First Nations people from the STC region, within a 200 km radius of Saskatoon.