Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society announced today that the Board of Directors approved $48,194 in funding for a new project in Kitamaat Village.
Haisla Nation Council was awarded the grant to construct an outdoor Bandshell.
To adapt the arts to COVID-19, The Bandshell will be built on the waterfront, in conjunction with a new Youth Center, supporting safe delivery of the arts in outdoor spaces.
Primarily for use by the youth, the arts performed in the bandshell will include traditional Haisla dancing, drumming, singing, story-telling, and other tradition-based art forms. Additionally, the youth will present artworks in video, electronic music, holograms, animations, and other non-traditional media including modern dance and spoken word. Traditional and modern performance will be brought together in a fusion that represents the future of Haisla arts. The youth are stewards of tradition while also forging new ground in the performing arts, which will be one of the pillars of a growing economy in the north.
Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Jobs, Economic Recovery and Innovation says, “A thriving arts and culture scene goes hand in hand with building communities that people are proud to live and work in. This investment in a bandshell in Kitamaat Village creates a focal point for young people to enjoy the arts, while ensuring Haisla culture and traditions have a platform to reach locals and attract visitors.”
Kevin Dobbin, CSP manager Rio Tinto BC Works says, “It is important to share history and cultural practices with the next generation. This structure will allow young and old alike to enjoy the rich culture of the Haisla Nation. I look forward to an opportunity to visit the Bandshell and witness the talents and history of our neighbours.”
“The NKDF Board of Directors has made it a priority this year to mitigate the social and economic impacts of Covid-19. The Haisla bandshell will provide a facility from which to generate short and long-term economic and cultural benefits,” said NKDF Chair Cindy Shelford.
The next application deadline is July 30, 2021. For more information please visit http://www.nkdf.org/ For requests under $5,000 applications are accepted on a continuous basis.
For more information on past projects funded throughout the NKDF investment area please visit http://www.nkdf.org/projects or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NKDFS
The Nechako-Kitamaat Development Fund Society was jointly established in 1997 with a combined contribution of $15 million by the government of British Columbia and the former Alcan Inc., now Rio Tinto. The Fund’s investment area includes lands impacted by the original Kemano project and focuses on the communities in the Ootsa, Lakes, Nechako and Haisla regions of the north.
The Society encourages applications from local governments, local First Nations governments and legally incorporated non-profit organizations. NKDF invests in projects that create sustainable employment, diversify the economy, and improve the basic infrastructure needed for community stability, quality of life and growth.
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