Yellowknives Dene Drummers, power of music brings hundreds together for FOTR

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, good medicine is good medicine,”
words well put by Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce of the Snotty Nose Rez Kids, met with a huge roar from hundreds gathered for FOTR this weekend as the band performed with the Yellowknives Dene Drummers.

And it was good medicine all weekend from the YKDFN Drummers, to Empress NYIRINGANGO, Jaya Bremer, Al Qahwa, Amos the Kid, Merv xx Gotti, Caylie G., GODSON, Jeremie Albino, Jonathan Antoine, DJTMixxy, Carmen Braden and Josh Q to name a few.

While the festival started out on a rocky note, it bounced back quickly with the magic of a myriad of performers and artists who hit Folk On The Rocks with a bang!

Nyce put to words beautifully what was evident after an explosive set that saw folks jumping, bouncing, cheering and smiling the day and nights of the midnight sun away.

The YKDFN Drummers performed throughout the festival along with dozens of artists from far and wide. The music, art and excitement of the festival brought together folks from across the territories and beyond, dancing, singing and sharing good vibes.

Headliners The Snotty Nose Rez Kids attracted hundreds of folks to the mainstage, bouncing with excitement even before the band hit the stage. Onstage Saturday night, The Yelloknives Dene Drummers joined the Snotty Nose Rez Kids to perform a song, surprising the audience, who broke out cheering even more loudly as the drummers took to the stage.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, good medicine is good medicine,” Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce remarked.

Caylie G., Mariya Stokes and Merv xx Gotti told True North FM that they have wanted to play at this festival for some time. The artists spoke about the ways that music is a powerful tool for building and transforming spaces that empower and bring people together.

“Art really is the best form of healing,” said Gotti, reflecting on the obstacles that he’s experienced on his journey as an artist, which brought him on the road to Yellowknife and to Folk On The Rocks for the first time.

“(The festival) feels so integrated with nature – we’re right here with the lake, the forest. And I just like being in the artist area, I haven’t seen some friends for a while and its really nice getting reconnected with them at a festival like this,” said Gotti.

The beginning of the festival began with a storm, which meant the live shows on the first day were cancelled and many of the other festival events did not go ahead that first night. Many festival goers purchased raffle tickets as a way to help offset the financial impact from being stormed out Friday.  It was a devastating blow for the artists who were scheduled to perform, as well as the vendors and concert organizers, but people across the FOTR community pulled together.

“It felt as though everyone wanted to band together to make sure these next two days were special. I love that,” added Gotti.

On Sunday night, hundreds gathered by the main stage again for an enchanting performance by Jennifer Castle followed by high-energy performances by Jeremie Albino, MOONRIIVR, and The Shivas who rocked the house before the Dene Drummers stole the show again. As the drummers took to the stage, the crowd cheered loudly and as they performed their drum dance songs, over 200 people joined in the round dancing into the cool night. 

In a touching moment onstage, Cody Drygeese, who is a lead Dene Drummer, acknowledged the passing of a Dene Elder, someone who was very important to the Dene First Nation and to the Folk On The Rocks Festival.

“This year, we lost one of our very important Elders, Alfred Baillargeon, he was one of our lead drummers and lead singers. He taught us all how to drum, taught Randy Baillargeon, he’s our lead singer, he’s not here tonight. Randy always said that he always sings in his Grandpa’s voice, in Alfred’s voice. So Alfred was, for a lot of us, our first mentor. Alfred was a very important part of helping the Folk On The Rocks Festival get going and taught us all how to do it. That’s why we’re all here today, because of Alfred. Well, the rest of our set is dedicated to Alfred, Massi Cho,” said Drygeese.

Another Dene Drummer stepped up to the microphone to say a few words about Elder Alfred Baillargeon.

“Alfred taught us how to drum since I was 12 years old, but all these drummers are here, this is our culture. This, is how we teach our kids. Alfred was a big Mentor for everybody.”

Earlier that day, Cassandra Blondin Burt, a Two-spirit Dene Author, Artist, and Traditional Medicine Maker, spoke about the significance of the drum gifted by their grandfather George Blondin, when they were 8 years old.

“There’s 13 laces on it, it’s very different than the drum that Dene men carry,” said Blondin Burt, who spoke of the uniqueness of the drum, its connection to the 13 moons, and the lunar cycles, carrying special meaning for women’s spirituality.

Throughout the festival, points of engagement to the lands, waters and air seemed ever-present everywhere folks turned on FOTR’s grounds, from sun warmed boulders where folks sat for a picnic, to canoes bejewelled with stones by the sanctuary of trees, to the soft sands across grounds by the waters of Long Lake.

Councillor Jeffrey Rosnawski, of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, honoured the continuum with the closing of the festival.

“I would like to acknowledge that the Folk On the Rocks festival occurs annually on Chief Drygeese Territory, which is and will forever be the homeland of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation.”

“This is the most wonderful event every year. The Yellowknives Dene Drummers, we always appreciate the opportunity to come and perform in front of everyone at this festival. And while we’re up there, I’d like to also acknowledge that it’s become a tradition for us to perform here and close down this festival. We have our own traditions and the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, as you can see, we have plenty of younger drummers on the stage with us tonight. And it takes a lot of courage to come up and join and perform in front of people, let’s give a hand to our younger drummers here,” urged Councillor Rosnawski.

“They’re going to be here in the future and still performing,” said Councillor Rosnawski as the crowd responded with waves of loud cheers.

Artisan Crafters from all over the territory and across the country were at the festival, showcasing beadwork, sculptures, painting, photography, prints, handmade clothing, candles and so much more.  Many community groups, like Ecology North and the mobile Art gallery were involved with the festival. 

Carly McFadden, who is the artistic director of FOTR explained that the festival showcases the rich culture of the North.

FOTR began in 1980, 45 years ago.
“It actually got started on the Frame Lake Shores by just, you know, a few local folks who were kind of looking to put a bit of a party together, and play a little bit of music and it grew from there and eventually was getting big enough that they were bothering the neighbours a little bit. So the city gave them the land that is now the Folk On The Rocks site that’s out by the airport (on Range Lake). Since then, it’s kind of grown and grown. It started as one stage out there. Now we’re at five. I think it was approximately around 10 artists each year and now, we’re up to somewhere between 45 and 50 normally. It’s just kind of grown over time and gotten bigger, but it stays a non-profit, we’re very community oriented,” said McFadden.