Summer is here, and the ocean is calling

RAVEN is so excited to invite you to another year of Festival Afloat — an on-the-water festival featuring musicians from all over B.C.

July 7th-16th join RAVEN & SCOUT for the Festival Afloat 2022 Salish Sea Tour: A floating benefit concert for Indigenous Nations’ legal challenges to protect the ocean. This is a free event, but we’re asking folks to donate on a sliding scale and to register so they can stay updated on any changes to the events — as we may be impacted by the weather, the winds or the tides.

Bring your canoe, kayak or stand-up paddle board and gather on the water to surround the Providence sailing ship that will become the stage for each performance. 

We’ll be sailing to coastal communities across the Salish Sea to bring people together to raise funds for Heiltsuk Nation’s Step Up for Coast Heroes campaign, and Gitxaała Nation’s campaign to cancel mineral leases on Lax k’naga dzol (Banks Island) that would impact rearing habitat for young salmon on their out-migration. 

Heiltsuk Nation is in the midst of a groundbreaking Indigenous Environmental Assessment project that pairs western science with traditional knowledge to uncover the full impacts of the Nathan E. Stewart disaster while charting a way forward to restore ecosystem health. The legal challenge – with support from RAVEN – is part of that path, as the case aims to enshrine the caretaker values and stewardship plans of Heiltsuk Nation into law. 

Meanwhile, Gitxaała Nation is taking B.C. and several mining companies to court over mineral claims in their territory that were registered without notification, consultation or consent. Gitxaała’s legal action takes aim at B.C.’s Gold Rush-era mineral tenure legislation which allows corporations to stake mining claims in Indigenous territory without even bothering to notify Indigenous Peoples.

Festival Afloat 2022 Salish Sea Tour Dates:

The Vancouver show starts at 6 p.m. All other shows on the tour have a 5 p.m. start time. 
Show start times are subject to change due to tide conditions — please register for the event closest to you for updates on the latest conditions!

July 7, 2022 with Desiree Dawson — Vancouver, Iy̓ál̓mexw, ʔəy̓alməxʷ (Jericho Beach) — Get your tickets.

July 8, 2022 with The Segals – Vancouver (location TBD).

July 11, 2022 with Ms.PAN!K — Gabriola Island, Kalachmenup (Silva Bay) — Get your tickets.

July 12, 2022 with Ms.PAN!K — Ladysmith, Tí7tkeméle (Transfer Park) — Get your tickets.

July 13, 2022 with Ms. PAN!K — Sidney/Victoria BC, Shoal Harbour, xʷsíʔiq̕əm.

July 14, 2022 with Renee Layla — Pender Island, SDȺY¸ES (Port Browning Marina)  — Get your tickets

July 15, 2022 with Renée Layla — Salt Spring Island, Shiya’hwt (Ganges Harbour) — Get your tickets.

July 16, 2022 with Renée Layla and Doug Thistle-Walker — Galiano Island, Sum’nuw (Montague Harbour) — Get your tickets.

Interested in organizing or sponsoring a show? Contact Caitlyn Kerr, RAVEN’s outreach and event organizer!