Gala highlights Aboriginal talent

“This is a great town. I love it, National Aboriginal Day,” comedian Patrick Cheechoo said.
Cheechoo was in town performing at the Aboriginal Day Gala that took place on June 22 at the Airlane Hotel and Conference Centre in Thunder Bay. Over 170 tickets to the gala were sold.
“I get to go to a gathering like this every day,” Cheechoo said as he looked around the audience. “I go there in the evening - you see friends and you catch up. It’s called shopping at Wal-Mart,” he joked.
As well as being a performer, Cheechoo was also a member of the planning committee for the event. The committee also included Larry Baxter, Bobby Narcisse, Janelle Wawia and Debbie Sault.
“The 2013 Aboriginal Day Gala was a huge success, we met and went far beyond our expectations. We came together to celebrate our people, our culture,” Sault explained.
Sault said that the talent and skills displayed by the Aboriginal artists was “awe-inspiring.”
There were dancers from the International Dance Academy, and musical performances by Melinda Henderson and Natasha Fisher.
Fisher’s sister Hannah, who played guitar, accompanied her on stage. The duo performed three cover songs, opening with the song “Summertime Sadness” by artist Lana Del Rey.
“I feel we did quite well,” Fisher said after the set. “The audience really reacted to us.”
Henderson said the event was “very warm and felt like a family,” and Narcisse performed songs by Elvis Presley in costume.
After the musical performances, three comedians took to the stage. Cheechoo, Todd Genno, and Krista Becker, the 2013 Comic Idol winner, did 10-minute sets each.
“The dancers and singers were amazing,” Becker said about the performances. “I am so inspired by their talents at such a young age.”
The gala was Becker’s second public performance, and she said that she “was really excited for this event.”
“I believe that we as people from different heritages and backgrounds should congregate more.
In doing so we can grow as a community together rather than against one another,” Becker said.
After his act, Genno thanked the crowd, noting how great the audience was. He said that he did not want to end his set. “This was an amazing event, it’s about time our people started being heard,” he said before he gave the audience a moment to cheer in response.
“Overall, I am very pleased with the support we received from local sponsors and the audience,” Cheechoo said. “I had a great time doing my stand-up; the audience responded wonderfully and many people gave me lots of compliments after the show.”
Sault said that so many of the local Aboriginal adults and young people are valuable role models for future generations.
“We look forward to next year`s Gala to grow with and inspire our people,” Sault said.
Cheechoo is also looking forward to next year’s event.
“I’m so looking forward to continuing my part to help out for June 20, 2014!” he said.