A local arts festival has been chosen as a finalist in the Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence for 2018. The Poundmaker Storyteller’s Festival on Poundmaker Cree Nation is one of 36 chosen finalists and is in the running for Rookie of the Year Award.
The festival considers itself a multicultural event bringing contemporary stories, performance and culture into the limelight. In its third year, it features guests from the local, provincial and international stages to take part in an exchange of stories, including an indigenous adaptation of Uncle Vanya. Floyd Favel, director of the Poundmaker Storyteller’s Festival, is excited for the recognition his festival is receiving.
“It’s really great to be acknowledged by being nominated in the first place, as it recognizes our efforts in bringing our stories, our culture and contemporary performances to the public,” says Favel.
The finalists and award recipients will be honoured at the 30th annual Saskatchewan Tourism Awards of Excellence Gala, which will be celebrated on April 11 at Teachers’ Credit Union Place in Saskatoon. Recipients of the Tourism Builder Award will also be honoured that night.
Favel says he’s not worried about winning or losing. Even if the festival doesn’t win the award, Favel says it’s an honour to be recognized for the work that they do. He also sees it as an opportunity to celebrate the work put in by other finalist organizations.
“Even if we don’t win, for us just to be amongst our peers, other organizations, other tourist companies or performance companies, just to be there with them and acknowledging and celebrating together. Because we’re all in it together, we’re all here for the common good; to bring people together.”
The Poundmaker Storyteller’s Festival is up against the Farm One Forty in Vanscoy, and the Wheatland Express in Cudworth and Wakaw. This year’s festival will be on Poundmaker Cree Nation, August 6, 7 and 8.