sakihiwe news
sakihiwe festival 2026
The 17th annual sākihiwē festival, set for June 25 - 28, will include a ticketed concert at The Park Theatre on Thursday night, performances at the Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport and The Forks on Friday, and block parties at the Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre and Central Park on Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
R&B-soul singer-songwriter LOV, pop artist Jessa Sky, JUNO Award-winning soul-folk singer Celeigh Cardinal, Francophone folk artist Willows, Métis fiddle veteran Darren Lavallee, hip hop artist Big Tones, Red River Jig innovators the Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers, singer-songwriter Amanda Gendron, Elder Dr. Winston Wuttunee, rising country singer Brettyn Rose, mezzo-soprano singer Rhonda Head, rising fiddle star Kieran Maytwayashing, R&B singer Kenzie Love, Indie-rock act Tinge, rapper KNG JMZ, local rock singer Aaron Peters, youth throat singers from the Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre, youth from the Spence Neighbourhood Association, dancers from the Rising Sun Pow Wow Club, and pow wow drum groups Blazing Buffalo and Thunderbird Coming are set to perform this year.
"We believe that your mental health suffers when you don't have access to the arts," says Festival Director Alan Greyeyes. "So, our festival is anchored by block parties in Winnipeg's North End and core, which give Indigenous and newcomer families an opportunity to participate in the arts without risking their personal safety, family obligations, or their ability to make ends meet."
Each block party will be free and open to everyone. They will run from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day and include a concert, an Indigenous marketplace, a BBQ, the SnapFox Photo Booth, face painting, activity stations for kids, and a prize draw at the end of the day. Picnic tables will be set up at both locations, but families are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets for the concerts.
"Our partnerships with the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, the staff at Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre, and Spence Neighbourhood Association form the foundation for our block parties," says Greyeyes. "The availability of Manitoba Music's stage along with financial support from Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries, The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund, our community sponsors, and our funding partners, gives our audiences a chance to see Indigenous people at their best."
The sākihiwē festival was launched as Aboriginal Music Week in 2009 and the organization received its festival name from Sundance Chief David Blacksmith during a sweat lodge ceremony in 2018. Since 2009, Aboriginal Music Manitoba (AMM), which produces the festival, has tested locations, dates, and marketing strategies to identify the best ways to help Indigenous artists and engage Indigenous families.
The sākihiwē festival anchors AMM's annual programming, which includes the Murray Sinclair Memorial Round Dance, a partnership with the Winnipeg Jets for their annual WASAC Night, an annual songwriting camp in Toronto, a ticketed concert series, a free community concert series, and a playlist series on Spotify and YouTube.
The sākihiwē festival won the Community Excellence Award at the 2025 Western Canadian Music Awards for its programming and support of Indigenous artists.
The 2026 sākihiwē festival schedule:
Opening Night presented by The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund
LOV with Jessa Sky, Kenzie Love
Partner: Star Chief Lifestyle
Thursday, June 25
The Park Theatre, 698 Osborne Street, Winnipeg
Doors 7 p.m., music 8 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Tickets $20 plus fees (buy one, get one free sale until May 22 at 4 p.m.)
All ages, everyone welcome
PURCHASE TICKETS ON EVENTBRITE
Schedule:
7 p.m.: Doors open
8 p.m.: Kenzie Love (45 minutes)
9 p.m.: Jessa Sky (45 minutes)
10 p.m.: LOV (45 minutes)
Accessibility:
The front doors are at street level and accessible washrooms are available. A portion of the bar is dedicated to accessibility and the venue has an area with a straight-on stage view that is reserved for guests who use wheeled devices.
Live at #YWG
Kieran Maytwayashing
Presented by the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport
Friday, June 26
Arrivals area the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, 1970 Wellington Avenue, Winnipeg
Music: 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Free admission
All ages, everyone welcome
Schedule:1 p.m.:
Kieran Maytwayashing (three x 45 minutes)
Indigenous Coffeehouse Live
Willows & Tinge
Presented by the sākihiwē festival, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, The Forks
Friday, June 26
Under the Canopy at The Forks, 1 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg
Music: 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Free admission
All ages, everyone welcome
Schedule:
7 p.m.: Willows & Tinge (90 minutes)
Accessibility:
The performances will be Under the Canopy beside The Forks Market. Accessible parking spots are available in front of The Forks Market parking lot and behind the Johnston Terminal. The Canopy is at street level. Accessible washrooms are available in The Forks Market, which has automatic doors at street level.
Turtle Island Block Party
Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers, Dr. Winston Wuttunee, Willows, Amanda Gendron, Big Tones, Aaron Peters, Rising Sun Pow Wow Club, Blazing Buffalo, Thunderbird Coming
Partners: Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, City of Winnipeg
Saturday, June 27
Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre, near 510 King Street, Winnipeg
Music: 2 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Free admission
All ages, everyone welcome
Free BBQ and activities for families
Indigenous Marketplace, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
SnapFox Photo Booth, 2 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Magician Donny Sanderson, 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Prize draw at 8:45 p.m.
Schedule:
2 p.m.: Pow wow demonstration with Rising Sun Pow Wow Club, Blazing Buffalo, Thunderbird Coming (105 minutes)
4 p.m.: Winston Wuttunee (45 minutes)
5 p.m.: Amanda Gendron & Willows (45 minutes)
6 p.m.: Big Tones (45 minutes)
7 p.m.: Aaron Peters (45 minutes)
8 p.m.: Ivan Flett Memorial Dancers (45 minutes)
Accessibility:
The block party will be set up in the field next to the Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre. The centre is in the middle of housing. Visitors will need to park on King Street, Dufferin Avenue, or Flora Avenue and use the paved walkways to access the site.
The Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre has accessible washrooms inside the building. Please use the front door to avoid barriers.
If you are concerned about barriers and need to drop off a family member closer to the block party site, please contact [email protected] by June 24. We'll make arrangements for you to drop off your family member(s) closer to the centre.
Central Park Block Party * * MOVING INDOORS ON SUNDAY * *
Celeigh Cardinal, Darren Lavallee, Willows, Brettyn Rose, KNG JMZ, Rhonda Head, Amanda Gendron, youth throat singers from the Tunngasugit Inuit Resource Centre, youth from the Spence Neighbourhood Association,
Partners: Spence Neighbourhood Association, West End BIZ, Central Neighbourhoods Winnipeg
Sunday, June 28
INDOOR LOCATION: West End Cultural Centre, 586 Ellice Avenue
Music: 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Free admission, limited seating
All ages, everyone welcome
Free BBQ and activities for families
Indigenous Marketplace (cancelled)
SnapFox Photo Booth: 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Face painting: 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Magician Donny Sanderson: 4 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Prize draw at 6:45 p.m.
Schedule:
2:05 p.m.: Tunngasugit (20 minutes) *
2:40 p.m.: Rhonda Head & Amanda Gendron (30 minutes) *
3:20 p.m.: KNG JMZ (30 minutes) *
4 p.m.: Willows (30 minutes)
4:45 p.m.: Brettyn Rose (30 minutes)
5:30 p.m.: Darren Lavallee (30 minutes)
6:15 p.m.: Celeigh Cardinal (30 minutes)
* Performances by youth from the Spence Neighbourhood Association in between acts.
Accessibility:
In the entranceway, there is an elevator that can take people up to the lobby. The elevator is locked, but during events there is a volunteer with a key available to help.
SPONSORS & FUNDING PARTNERS:
AMM acknowledges sākihiwē festival Helper Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries and Resilience Partner The Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund. The organization also extends its gratitude to ziibi 104.7 FM, the West End BIZ, Manitoba Music, Assiniboine Credit Union, Star Chief Lifestyle, the City of Winnipeg, the Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, Keya Lifestyle & Bedding, The Forks, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, North End Revitalization Inc., and Central Neighbourhoods Winnipeg.
The sākihiwē festival is made possible by partnerships with the Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre, the City of Winnipeg team at the Turtle Island Neighbourhood Centre, and the Spence Neighbourhood Association.
AMM acknowledges the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage, the Canada Council for the Arts, the Manitoba Arts Council, and the Winnipeg Arts Council for their financial support of the sākihiwē festival.
