John, an Aboriginal elder who offered a prayer at the opening of the festival, said inclusiveness is one of the main values of the festival.
People of all colors are welcome, and even aliens, if they’re around
he launched.
We want to eliminate hate
he added.
The festivals Wake the Giant originated from a cultural awareness project created in 2019 by Sean Spenrath, Student Success Program Coordinator at Dennis Franklin Cromarty School, and Greg Chomut, teacher at the same school.
Well-known artists are on the program, but Mr. Spenrath explains that one of the objectives of the festival is also to give students a chance to take the stage.
The event began with a performance by a traditional school dance troupe, to the sound of drummers.
Students from Dennis Franklin Cromarty School on stage at the festival.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Miguelle-Éloïse Lachance
In the evening, Malachi Beardy, a 17-year-old student from Sachigo Lake First Nation, will play a piano piece he composed himself.
He will be on the stage installed at the Thunder Bay Marina just before the Canadian group Our Lady Peacewhich is due to close the festival around 10 p.m.
« I can’t wait to play for the people of Thunder Bay. I’m also a little nervous, but excited to have the opportunity to play in front of a large crowd. It’s a unique experience to be able to go on stage with renowned artists. »
The teenager is delighted to see that Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals can share the same stage.
Malachi started playing the piano at the age of 13 and learned on his own.
He is proud to compose his own songs, even if the first ones were, in his opinion, not very good.
We all have to start somewhere
he said.
« It’s exciting to see students take the stage and demonstrate their talent. »
A growing success
The idea for this festival came to Sean Spenrath during a week of activities organized by the school to welcome students who leave their community in the Far North of Ontario to continue their schooling after grade 8.
A music group, July Talk, had come to give a workshop in the music class of his colleague Greg Chomut.
At the time, the school was trying to set up a new initiative to welcome young people, which included the Dennis Franklin Cromarty experience
a series of workshops offered by members of the community, and a scavenger hunt inspired by the show The Amazing Race.
This initiative was called Wake the Giant.
This is a good opportunity for students to discover the city
explique Sean Spenrath.
He and his colleague Greg Chomut then wondered why not throw a big party while the kids are here and have a big music festival?
he says.
Dennis Franklin Cromarty School teaches students in grades 9 to 12 from approximately 20 First Nations in Northwestern Ontario.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Miguelle-Éloïse Lachance
In September 2019, a few months after the launch of the project, the first festival Wake the Giant notably welcomed the Toronto group Metric.
After a year of hiatus due to COVID-19, the festival was back in 2021 with, among others, Torontonian Jessie Reyez and the Californian band Third Eye Blind.
Sean Spenrath isn’t surprised by the festival’s rapid success.
« We knew it would get this big quickly. The community welcomed us with open arms. »
There are many people who wanted to contribute and do something to help the students
he adds.
Create a welcoming environment
In addition to the festival, the project Wake the Giant also aims to create safe spaces for young people, in collaboration with businesses and community organizations, in response to several tragedies that have occurred in the city.
Seven Indigenous youth died in Thunder Bay between 2000 and 2011 after leaving their isolated communities in the north of the province to study in Thunder Bay.
The Nishnawbe Aski Nation erected signs at the festival site in memory of the seven Aboriginal youth who died in Thunder Bay and the many victims of residential schools.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Miguelle-Éloïse Lachance
Immediately after our launch, we had a lot of support,
says Sean Spenrath. Several companies that have approached us to give workshops.
L’initiative Wake the Giant was slowed down by the pandemic, as all school activities were held virtually in 2020.
The coordinator of the student success program indicates that he can now reconnect with companies and invite them to the school, among other things for a career fair in March.
Wake the Giant stickers were distributed throughout Thunder Bay, including City Hall, to identify welcoming places.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Miguelle-Éloïse Lachance
Kirsten Meekis of the First Nation of Sandy Lakeattended the first festival Wake the Giant in 2019, when she was in 8th grade, so before studying at Dennis Franklin Cromarty.
She also participated in The Dennis Franklin Cromarty Experience
.
The teenager says that’s what convinced her to leave her community to come and study in Thunder Bay to finish high school.
Greg Chomut and Sean Spenrath created Wake the Giant to help students like Kirsten Meekis (center) get to know the city of Thunder Bay better.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Miguelle-Éloïse Lachance
Everyone feels welcome and included. [Les organisateurs] have so many partners in the city
your Kirsten.
She also notes that she feels safe, despite the dramas involving Indigenous youth over the years.
« You have someone to talk to if you’re not feeling well. There is a school number you can call. They really care about our safety, and want us to be able to enjoy the city. »
Kirsten was looking forward to seeing Steve Aoki. I’m very excited. The festival in general is so cool and fun. It brings everyone together. You can meet new people.