New Regina music festival to focus on truth and reconciliation

A new music festival in Regina is aiming to be the first of its kind in Western Canada.

The MacKenzie Art Gallery and the Regina Symphony Orchestraare behind theForward Currents festival, which will exploresocially relevant issues through music and art.

Organizers hope the festival will spark conversations about issues affecting the community, includingreconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.

In line with this focus, the symphony will be partnering with Indigenous artists from different disciplines for a series of concerts.

A Buffy Sainte-Marie concert last month waspart of that initiative.

One artist who will be performing in the festival is Lindsay Knight, AKAEekwol, the MuskodayFirst Nation rapper.

Future is our children, Eekwol says

When Eekwolthinks abouttruth and reconciliation, she thinks about the future, she said.

"And the future is all of our children,"Eekwolsaid.

"I have two little ones at home right now and everything that I do is for them so that they will grow up in something other than what I grew up in, so that they will be able to become adults and be proud of what they are."

It needs to happen and should happen and must happen.- Mayor Michael Fougere

Among those participating in the announcement at the art gallery Thursday was Regina Mayor MichaelFougere, who has been outspoken about the need to move forward on the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

"It's a topic that's not just timely here in Regina, Sask., but it's right across Canada. It is in the public domain, a public discussion. It needs to happen and should happen and must happen," Fougeresaid.

The ForwardCurrentsFestival will take place March2-4, 2018, at the MacKenzie Art Gallery.