APTN Celebrates National Aboriginal Day in Edmonton

APTN CELEBRATES NATIONAL ABORIGINAL DAY IN EDMONTON
Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration is June 20

May 13, 2015, Winnipeg, Manitoba – Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) announced today the lineup and hosts for Aboriginal Day Live, a free day-long celebration and free evening concert that’s a smashing onstage display of Indigenous superstars on Saturday, June 20, 2015 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Each year, the network travels to a new city to celebrate with the residents of the region and province. For the 9th annual celebration, APTN will bring the largest event of its kind in Canada in recognition of National Aboriginal Day to Edmonton’s Louise McKinney Riverfront Park.

Free and fun activities for the whole family, including music and dance performances, food sampling, traditional demonstrations, children’s activities and much more kicks-off at 12 noon. A cultural stage will showcase rotating performances of First Nations, Inuit and Métis performers from across Alberta. Select regional Aboriginal artisans offering hand-crafted creations for sale and locally-sourced food trucks and vendors with fare will be onsite to nourish all tastes. Spirits will be lifted, souls will be moved, and toes and feet will be tapping to the beats all throughout the day.

To welcome the summer solstice and setting sun, APTN will broadcast the Aboriginal Day Live concert LIVE and this year concerts will be held in Winnipeg and Edmonton. The Edmonton twin stage concert is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. MT and a fireworks finale will close the celebration at 10:30 p.m. MT.

Aboriginal Day Live Broadcast: APTN will bring the celebration to Canada via the LIVE broadcast, radio waves, online and mobile devices. The exclusive 4-hour Aboriginal Day Live concert will broadcast on APTN and APTN HD at 6:30 p.m. MT.

EDMONTON LINEUP:
Live from Louise McKinney Riverfront Park in Edmonton, Michelle Thrush, star of the APTN hit series Blackstone will co-host the twin stage performance with Don Kelly, star of the APTN hit series Fish Out of Water.

• Crystal Shawanda: She grew up with the musical heritage of the Wikwemikong First Nation on Canada’s Manitoulin Island. Now based in Nashville – aka Music City, USA – this JUNO award winner and country music chart-topper sings deep sounding roots, blues and Americana.
• Derek Miller: From the Six Nations of the Grand River in Ontario, he’s a singer-songwriter who mixes “hillbilly soul with some Mohawk/Onondaga swagger.” Miller’s also been awarded ‘Best Blues CD’ at the 2012 and 2013 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
• George Canyon: Nova Scotian but now resides in Alberta. Canyon shares his journey through songs inspired by integrity and dedication to his family. He’s also amassed multiple awards – including JUNOS and a Canadian Country Music Award for ‘Humanitarian of the Year.’
• Ghostkeeper: A Calgary-based foursome. Traditional storytelling influences are at the core of their lyrics that are layered with noisy blues and a catchy pop sensibility. The result is an organic, energizing, and heartfelt sound.
• Leanne Goose: Inuvialuit and Dene roots add to the core of her country, blues and inflections of the guitar. Goose’s lyrics originate from the North and heart of the Mackenzie Delta.
• Murray Porter: : A Mohawk master of the piano from the Six Nations of the Grand River, but now based out of the West Coast. He’s shaped his own style of blues, country and humour. When Porter hits the stage, audiences follow his foot-stomping, hand-clapping blues lead.
• Nathan Cunningham: A country singer originally from Sucker Creek First Nation, who blends inspiration from many genres but stays true to the country sound. Cunningham was given nods for both the ‘Best Country CD’ and ‘Male Entertainer of the Year’ at the 2013 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
• Northern Cree Singers: Released over 30 albums and is comprised of members from throughout the Treaty 6 regions. Their work is found on the soundtrack for the Hollywood blockbuster Grey Owl. To top it off, they’re the only Canadian Aboriginal group to ever be nominated – many times over – for GRAMMY Awards.

In 2014, more than one million people were reached by the LIVE broadcast on APTN, APTN HD, Aboriginal radio stations across Canada and internationally via the livestream on aboriginaldaylive.com

For the latest details on Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration, visit aboriginaldaylive.com

ABOUT APTN:
September 1, 2014, marked the 15-year anniversary of the launch of the first national Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in approximately 11 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable, direct-to-home satellite, telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers. The network launched its high definition channel, APTN HD, in the spring of 2008. APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages. For program schedule or for more information, please contact APTN at (204) 947-9331 or toll-free at 1-888-278-8862 (Canada), or visit the website at www.aptn.ca