Ottawa – There will be history in the making on Thursday, April 25 at 5 p.m. in the main foyer of the National Arts Centre, when Northern Scene – the largest gathering ever of artists from Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, as well as Nunavik and Nunatsiavut, ever held outside the region – kicks off with a dazzling event showcasing some of the remarkable Aboriginal artists participating in the 10-day festival.

The welcome ceremony will be attended by Assembly of First Nations National Chief Shawn Atleo, Métis National Council President Clément Chartier and Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) President Terry Audla. Many government and territorial representatives are among the dozens of special guests to attend.

The public, 40-minute welcome ceremony is directed by internationally-acclaimed artistic director/choreographer Alejandro Ronceria and features performances by Yukon’s Dakhká Kwáan Dancers and  Dehcho Dene Drummers; drum dancer David Serkoak (Nunavut), throat boxer Nelson Tagoona (Nunavut); singer-songwriters Leela Gilday (NWT), Diyet (Yukon), Sylvia Cloutier (Nunavut), and Nive Nielsen (Greenland); fiddler Boyd Benjamin (Yukon); throat singer Evie Mark (Nunavut), and Ottawa’s  Pimadiziwin Singers.  Algonquin Elder, Albert Dumont, will open the ceremony with a blessing, welcoming all the festival artists to Algonquin territory.

ABOUT NORTHERN SCENE

Northern Scene is the sixth in a series of biennial national festivals produced by the NAC to showcase the work of artists from a specific region of Canada. This eclectic, multi-disciplinary arts festival features the work of 250 of the best established and emerging artists from Yukon, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, as well as Nunatsiavut and Nunavik.  Northern Scene offers Ottawa/Gatineau audiences a contemporary cultural snapshot of the North. Northern music, theatre, dance, visual and media arts, film, literature, storytelling, food and fashion events will invade the capital at 26 venues across the city from April 25 to May 4, 2013.  Presenting Partner of Northern Scene is TransCanada Corporation.  Full festival programming and tickets are available at www.northernscene.ca.