LOCATION and TIME: Saturday, JULY 18, 2009 from 1-4 pm. Tribal Spirit Gallery, 20435 Fraser Hwy, Langley, BC, Canada V3A 4G3

Langley, BC, Canada, JULY 18, 2009 — Tribal Spirit Gallery brings the rich cultural traditions of the North West Coast Natives inland to the Fraser Valley. Appearing live at Tribal Spirit Gallery for an afternoon of cultural interaction, Andy Everson and the K’umugwe Dancers. Through song and dance, the K’umugwe dancers weave the roots of their ancestors and beliefs through stories upheld by a long tradition of oral history telling. Engaging movements and heart stopping drums beat with a force that leaves an indelible impression on those who come to share in the experience.

The Kumugwe Dancers take great pride in preserving the ancient traditions of their ancestors. Through sharing the songs and dances of the K’omoks and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples, the K’umugwe Dancers feel that they are able to help facilitate respect and understanding within the local community and communities abroad. Taking their name from the traditional Big House that sits within the heart of the K’omoks First Nation, members of the dance troupe have been practicing and performing together since 2001. The K’umugwe Dancers feel that by encouraging young members of their community to learn the ancient songs and dances of their people, they will ensure the survival of the culture for generations to come.

Andy Everson was born in Comox, BC in 1972 and named Nagedzi after his grandfather, the late Chief Andy Frank. Influenced heavily by his grandmother, he has always been driven to uphold the traditions of both the K’omoks and Kwakwaka’wakw First Nations. In this regard, Andy has pursued avenues where he can sing traditional songs and perform ceremonial dances at potlatches and in a number of different dance groups, most notably the Le-La-La Dancers and the K’umugwe Dancers. Pursuing other areas of traditional culture has also led Andy to complete a Master’s degree in anthropology. Because the Comox First Nation lies on the border between the larger Salish and Kwakwaka’wakw realms, his thesis focused on notions and expressions of contemporary Comox identity. His work in anthropology provided him with a background in linguistics which subsequently inspired him to create a company, Copper Canoe, Inc, that specializes in the creation of Aboriginal language CD-ROMs.

Established in 2005, Tribal Spirit Gallery is the only native art destination in the Fraser Valley. With an authentic display of Northwest Coast native artifacts, complete with engaging stories from the native artists, the Gallery has become more like a tourist destination. In addition to prints, carvings, clothing, jewelry, and affordable gifts, the Tribal Spirit Gallery holds cultural events and runs gallery tours. The gallery has over 2500 square feet of gallery space in Downtown Langley, displaying some of the largest totem poles in the Greater Vancouver Area, with one reaching as tall as 18 feet. With a natural ambiance, complete with soothing sounds of the outdoors, the Tribal Spirit Gallery attracts visitors from across the region and around the world.

Jaye Lyonns
Tribal Spirit Gallery
20435 Fraser Hwy, Langley, BC V3A 4G3

604 514 2377
toll free: 1888 834 8757
http://www.tribalspiritgallery.com
info@tribalspiritgallery.com