Industry Development Day: Inclusion, Diversity & Wellness

Event Details

Presented in partnership w. Talking Stick Festival - join us for a powerful afternoon of discussions from Indigenous voices in the industry.

About this event
Presented in partnership with Talking Stick Festival and Blueprint

Industry Development Day: Inclusion, Diversity & Wellness

Saturday, June 25th @ Fortune Sound Club

3:00PM - 6:00PM

** (Happening before Let's Hear It! Live: Indigenous Artist Showcase)

Panel Discussions and Keynote

FREE RSVP

As part of Talking Stick Festival, we hope you can join us for a powerful afternoon of discussions from Indigenous artists, professionals, advocates and more. The focus of the afternoon will be on inclusion, diversity and wellness and will feature a keynote from JB The First Lady.

This event is by donation, and will take place directly before the Let's Hear It! Live: Indigenous Artist Showcase. Everyone is welcome to attend, and stay for the evenings live music programming.

PANEL 1: Afro x Indigenous Music Connections

This panel will feature a group of Afro-Indigenous artists, songwriters and advocates from BC to discuss their roots in hip-hop, and their experience as individuals intersecting two communities. How has their identity as Afro-Indigenous shaped their creative and artist lives? What challenges are faced by Afro-Indigenous artists, and what does true BIPOC representation in the creative industry really look like? This discussion will be a chance for artists to share their experiences, and their music and celebrate their heritage.

Moderated by: DJ OSHOW

w/ Mamarudegyal, Eros Taylor and Desmond Pack

PANEL 2: Mental Wealth III

Presented by Blueprint, this is a panel discussion for members of the music, creative, entertainment and hospitality industries, particularly for individuals in the BIPOC community. This conversation aims to help de-stigmatizing mental health issues while highlighting different approaches to true wellness. In partnership with Talking Stick Festival and Music BC, Mental Wealth III will focus specifically on experiences from Indigenous voices. This event is welcome to everyone seeking to learn and listen about the challenges and opportunities to finding mental wellness.

Moderated by Tanu Gamble and Sierra Tasi Baker

w/ Joe Buffalo, KeAloha and Mamarudegyal

KEYNOTE: Following Your Inner Compass - A Conversation With JB The First Lady

Indigenous hip-hop and spoken word artist, emcee, beat-boxer, activist, cultural dancer, and youth educator - JB The First Lady will share moments of inspiration, learning and growth through her artistic career and beyond. This conversation will aim to inspire other young artists, creatives and activists on how best to navigate their personal and professional journeys.

Music BC acknowledges that this event will be celebrated on the unceded and ancestral territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ilwətaɁɬ / sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.

Thank you to Talking Stick Festival, Blueprint, Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia, FACTOR and the Government of Canada for their support in this program.