Opening Ceremony | Echoes of Sunset

6:15 - 6:55 PM: Senaqwila Wyss, Mary Point, Amanda Strain and Robbie George

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7:00 - 7:25 PM: StelliumPoint 

stelliumPoint is an Indigenous/Irish singer-songwriter born and raised in their home territory of xʷməθkʷəy̓əm. stelliumPoint has always been drawn to music with the power to make the listener feel listened-to. stelliumPoint writes music from an angle of self discovery and exploration, often finding answers to feelings they were unaware of before picking up the pen. stelli's goal, through their music, is to offer a loose thread to others who might be struggling with the knots of inner turmoil and existentialism.

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7:30 - 7:40 PM: Bharatanatyam Invocation - Arno Kamolika

The piece begins with a ritualistic invocation, a traditional form of gratitude and a tender request for forgiveness from the earth we strike. The poetry of the piece describes the form of little Ganesha who is the son of Uma, and signifies his spiritual wisdom as the giver of blessings like a wish-fulfilling tree. The culmination of the piece is a thillana - which is a joyful release: it starts with grounded stillness, nuance movements depicting sensory awakening of the dancer, finally culminating into a dynamic rhythmic segment that represents celebration and bliss.

Performers:

Isha Ramamoorthy, Vaishnavi Kulkarni, Triya Tessa Ramburn, Anjana Rajendran, Sihi Sandesh

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7:45 - 8:05 PM: K̓esugwilakw, Sierra Tasi Baker‍

Sierra is an Indigiqueer urban and environmental designer by day, artist, dancer and choreographer by night. Sierra is from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and is also Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw/Musga̱mgw Dzawada̱’enuxw, Łingít (Tlingit), and Magyar/Hungarian. Sierra’s ancestral Kwak̓wala name, K̓esugwilakw, means “Creator” or “Creative One” or “One Who Carves Wealth/the Supernatural into the World”. K̓esugwilakw comes from a family of artists and entrepreneurs, growing up in their ancestral North-West and Coast Salish cultures. K̓esugwilakw holds a Masters of Science in Sustainable Urbanism from the Bartlett School of City Planning from University College London, a Bachelors in Environmental Design from the University of British Columbia’s School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture and 10+ years of experience performing professionally.  This has made them as salty as the Salish sea, critiquing colonialism Sierra focuses on decolonization through queering design and dance. Combining Indigenous design and research methodologies, oral history, primary archival research, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and embodied knowledge to develop uniquely queer, environmental, urban design and choreographed sovereign solutions. Choreographing space, working with concepts of shapeshifting, time, transformation, origin and healing. K̓esugwilakw’s forms of “embodied storytelling” works to challenge their audiences to question what is traditional and what is contemporary? 

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8:10 - 9:20 PM: A Moment Closer - Marisa Gold‍

Marisa Gold is an intuitive multidisciplinary artist born and raised in Vancouver, BC, with a passion for soulful creative expression. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in dance from Simon Fraser University, is a graduate from The Ailey School Independent Study program (NYC).

Marisa has professional experience as a spoken word poet, film/tv actor/dancer, musical theatre performer, voiceover artist, vocalist and choreographer. As a collaborator, Marisa joyfully brings her multifaceted experience to each creative process she takes part in.

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8:10 - 9:20 PM: Roots of Echoes, Moments of Silence -  Jarah Dobbs and Iris Houngbo 

Iris Houngbo is an artist, Music producer, DJ, and sound composer. They DJ and produce electronic dance music, experimental music, and ambient soundscapes. 

Jarah thinks in music. Join Jarah and Iris and live in the moment as we think about the dangers and confusions of life from the point of view of a nonsensical twat.

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8:10 - 9:20 PM: Rhythm and Corus

Corus is an Indigenous artist from Haisla & Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia.Drawing inspiration from nature, Corus creates new age, organic, neo soul and meditation music that resonates with the rhythms of the earth. Their music is a reflection of the profound connection they feel to their ancestral lands, blending soulful melodies with the natural harmonies of the universe. Creating music to unify all living beings of Mother Earth, fostering a sense of collective prosperity and growth.

Rhythm is a Filipina BIPOC neo-soul artist whose music is a prayer—for healing, for remembering, for reconnection. Rhythm creates soul-stirring music that blends neo-soul, R&B, ambient textures, and sounds from nature. Her voice carries warmth and wisdom, layered with meditative instrumentation and organic soundscapes that invite listeners into presence, softness, and reflection.

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8:10 - 9:20 PM:  Ulam Workshop - Jason Desouza

Jason will lead an interactive Ulam workshop, introducing participants to the cultural significance of this traditional Southeast Asian practice of gathering and sharing fresh herbs, greens, and medicinal plants. The workshop explores food as a living archive of knowledge, connection, and community.

Jason will be joined by Hazi (he/him) and Tamimi (he/him), who will assist in facilitating the workshop and supporting participants throughout the experience.