Press Releases

Winnipeg, Man. — The winter solstice is almost upon us, marking the longest and darkest night of the year. In belated honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day, APTN invites you to illuminate the night with a unique adaptation of APTN Indigenous Day Live (IDL). From Dec. 21-25, all APTN channels will broadcast the first-ever APTN Indigenous Day Live Winter Solstice from coast-to-coast-to-coast.

APTN recorded some of Turtle Island’s best talent in the fall of 2020 to create the IDL Winter Solstice celebrations. Through five one-hour broadcasts on APTN, viewers can join in the celebrations from the comfort and safety of their own homes.

“Indigenous-led initiatives and cultural representation uplift our traditions and build a stronger sense of identity,” says Monika Ille, APTN’s CEO. “Traditional healing and the arts are often interconnected and, in this case, music is medicine. We are excited to provide and share an accessible winter solstice with a celebration that properly acknowledges the spirit of reconciliation with all of Canada.”

The generous financial support from the Government of Canada has enabled APTN Indigenous Day Live to expand its reach, year after year. In addition, The Government of Canada’s continued support enables APTN to bring people and communities together during a time when we need it most. “There is no better way to learn more about Indigenous languages, cultures and traditions then to immerse ourselves in the sounds and colours of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities,” said the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Heritage.

Alan Doyle, Alanis Morissette, Bebe Buckskin, Carolina East, Don Amero, Jeremy Dutcher, Matiu and Serena Ryder are just a few of the outstanding artists featured in this year’s lineup.

The musical performances will be amplified by the inclusion of works from Indigenous visual artists, which will be displayed across the backdrop on-stage. For instance, Tehatsistahawi Kennedy’s artwork will be paired with Bebe Buckskin’s IDL Winter Solstice performance.

Kennedy reflected on the importance of the winter solstice. “In my teachings, this is the time when our Mother, the Earth, takes a rest. We see that change in the land as everything slows down and grows cold. This season is significant to me because it provides us an environment to rest and reflect on our year — that is of course, if we allow it to,” he said.

Broadcast Details:

Tune in to APTN Indigenous Day Live Winter Solstice from Dec. 21-25 on APTN. 

Visit aptn.ca/schedule for your regional broadcast times. The televised broadcasts will be available for streaming on APTN lumi 24 hours after airing. 

APTN is proud to present this unique edition of APTN Indigenous Day Live and would like to acknowledge its partners: the Government of Canada, the Province of Nova Scotia, the Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada, TD Bank Group, The North West Company Inc., Nova Scotia Power and Manitoba Hydro.

Don’t miss the opportunity to celebrate the winter solstice with APTN! For more information and the complete IDL Winter Solstice roster, please visit indigenousdaylive.ca. 

– 30 –

About APTN Indigenous Day Live

APTN Indigenous Day Live (IDL) has been held annually since 2007 and is the largest celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day and the summer solstice in Canada. APTN presents a free daytime program of activities and an evening concert in Winnipeg. Over the years, IDL has grown in size and has been hosted in multiple cities. In response to the COVID pandemic, a unique edition called IDL Winter Solstice is presented in 2020. The multi-platform concert broadcast is available to all Canadians and beyond on APTN and APTN lumi. To join the conversation anytime, use the hashtag #IDLwintersolstice or #JADsolsticedhiver.

For more information on today’s announcement, visit indigenousdaylive.ca or APTN’s Media Centre.

Source: 

Emili Bellefleur
Manager of Communications, APTN
(438) 349-2456
[email protected]