Speakers and Artists

 lək̓ʷəŋən Dancers

The group originally started back in 1978 at the VNFC under the guidance of our late uncle Ray Peters from the Cowichan tribe area, teaching the songs and dances to our uncles and late father Jim Dick. Fast forward to today, the group now made up of mostly Songhees Nation members after our late father continued the group with our nations young ones.   Now run by his daughters Beth and Lyla and Momma who is the backbone of the group,  the young ones from years back are now lead singers and dancers and watching next generation helping keep the group going and performing all over the greater Victoria area.  We’ve been invited to many events from Parades, schools, private functions and all levels of government including the last two Royal tours.  All of us taking pride In Representing our Songhees Nation by sharing a little bit of our culture and keeping the songs and dances alive.  

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We hope you enjoy watching as much as we love doing what our ancestors have given us to carry on.

Cris Derksen

Juno nominated Cris Derksen, originally from Northern Alberta, Canada, is an internationally respected Indigenous cellist and composer. Derksen braids the traditional and contemporary, weaving her classical background and her Indigenous ancestry together with new school electronics to create genre-defying music. 

As a composer she has her foot in many worlds working in choral, symphonic, film, theatre and dance, and is regularly commissioned by major Canadian orchestras and new music ensembles. As a performer Derksen performs nationally and internationally. Recent destinations include Hong Kong, Australia, Mongolia, Europe, Mexico and a whole lot of Canada: the place Derksen refers to as home. 

2021 commissions include pieces for the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra, Ottawa's Chamberfest, the City of Toronto, Edmonton New Music, the Edmonton Symphony with support from the National Arts Centre, Vancouver's Blueridge Chamber Festival, Vancouver Transform Cabaret, and a 4-part docuseries for the Knowledge Network.  A new album of Cris Derksen’s works will be released in 2022.

Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson

Born and raised in Haida Gwaii off the west coast of Canada, Terri-Lynn has been a promoter of Haida music since the age of 13 and has performed throughout the world. For her work, which has spanned 40 years and has helped bring renewal to Haida songs, she received a ‘Keeper of Traditions’ Canadian Aboriginal Music Award in 2008. Her first traditional album: ‘Lalaxaaygans: Beautiful Sound’, and her second album, ‘New Journeys’ received multiple awards and nominations, including winning Best Female Traditional/Cultural Roots at the 2009 Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards (CAMA), a ‘Best Female Artist’ at the 2011 CAMA, and was cited as one of the top 10 Most Influential Indigenous Albums of 2011 by RPM Indigenous Music Culture. In 2012, ‘Have a Light Heart on Your New Journey’ reached No 2 on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown and was on this chart for almost 40 weeks. Terri-Lynn is also a well-known lawyer representing the Haida Nation in the area of aboriginal-environmental law, is the Principal lawyer at White Raven Law Corporation, an author and legal scholar.

Carey Newman

Carey Newman, whose traditional name is Hayalthkin’geme, is a multi-disciplinary Indigenous artist, master carver, filmmaker, author and public speaker. Through his father he is Kwakwak’awakw from the Kukwekum, Giiksam, and WaWalaby’ie clans of northern Vancouver Island, and Coast Salish from Cheam of the Sto:lo Nation along the upper Fraser Valley. Through his mother his ancestors are Settlers of English, Irish, and Scottish heritage. In his artistic practice he strives to highlight Indigenous, social, and environmental issues as he examines the impacts of colonialism and capitalism, harnessing the power of material truth to unearth memory and trigger the necessary emotion to drive positive change. He is also interested in engaging with community and incorporating innovative methods derived from traditional teachings and Indigenous worldviews into his process. 

Highlights from his career include being selected as the master carver of the Cowichan 2008 Spirit Pole, a journey that saw him travel the province of BC sharing the carving experience of carving a 20’ totem with over 11,000 people, a major commission entitled “Dancing Wind” installed at the 2010 Olympic Games, Athlete’s Village in Whistler, premiering the documentary he wrote and co-directed at the Vancouver International Film Festival as well as publishing his first book. He also continues to create for and consult with corporations, government agencies, collectors and museums around the world. 

Perhaps his most influential work, The Witness Blanket, made of items collected from residential schools, government buildings and churches across Canada, deals with the subject of Truth and Reconciliation. It is now part of the collection at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights. 

Carey was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2017 and was named to the Order of British Columbia in 2018 and he is the current Audain Professor of Contemporary Art Practice of the Pacific Northwest at the University of Victoria. 

Chancellor Steven Lewis Point

The Honourable Steven Lewis Point is a double alumnus of UBC and retained close ties with the University after receiving his Bachelor of Laws in 1985.
Mr. Point served as director of the First Nations Legal Studies program at the Peter A. Allard School of Law from 1991 to 1994.  He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree in 2013 for his exceptional commitment in the field of law, legal and Aboriginal education, and his leadership in the Indigenous community.
In addition to his role as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia, Point’s career included practicing as a lawyer, working at the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs and in the Department of Employment & Immigration, serving as a provincial court judge and the Chief Commissioner of the British Columbia Treaty Commission, and chairing the advisory committee that worked to implement the recommendations from the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry.
Mr. Point is a member of the Skowkale First Nation and has advocated for Indigenous people throughout his career, pressing for greater recognition of their contributions and their fuller involvement in all aspects of life in British Columbia.
Mr. Point is a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Golden and Diamond Jubilee Medals, the Order of B.C, the Joseph H. Cohen Award from the Justice Institute of British Columbia Foundation, a National Aboriginal Achievement Award, the Order of Chilliwack, and honourary Doctorate of Laws degrees from the University of the Fraser Valley and Capilano University.