‘Everyone is welcome’: The stage is set for Wi’kipaltmik 2025 in Cape Breton

A three-day sacred gathering will take place in Sydney’s Open Hearth Park to celebrate Indigenous culture, resilience and community.

The stage was set - quite literally - on Friday for a first-of-its-kind celebration of Mi’kmaq culture this weekend at one of the biggest outdoor venues on Cape Breton Island, Open Hearth Park in Sydney, N.S.

The inaugural gathering is called Wi’kipaltimk 2025.

“Wi’kipaltimk in our language translates to having a feast or celebration,” explained Debra Ginnish, one of the event’s organizers.

Wi’kipaltimk is a free three-day event that is capped off each night with live concerts featuring Indigenous performers such as Neon Dreams, Morgan Toney and Deedee Austin among others.

The big daytime draws on Saturday and Sunday is pow wows from noon until 5 p.m.

They are billed as a chance for people to check out celebrations normally held in Indigenous communities - in the middle of Sydney.

“Once you hear the drums, that will draw anybody in,” Ginnish said. “For me, it’s such a healing and kind of heartfelt.. just the emotional part, too. It will draw people in, basically.”

There is also a more serious component to the event.

Truth-sharings and Indian Day School survivor reflections will take place Saturday and Sunday in a yurt that is on site.

Organizers say it’s a chance for everyone to learn more about the wrongs of the past.

“Even though we went home to our homes in the evening, the things that happened in Indian Day School must be told because it’s about truth and reconciliation,” said Jeff Ward, an event emcee and Indian Day School survivor. “And we can’t have reconciliation until we know the truth.”

With this being the first weekend of Nova Scotia’s ban on being in the forest, organizers said crowds at Wi’kipaltimk could be even bigger than initially expected.

“They’re not allowed to go in the woods, but they can come here,” said Lindsay Marshall, an elder from Potlotek First Nation, with a laugh. “When this community recognizes the contributions of this nation throughout its centuries, through everything that we’ve been through - I think this is a good place to show resilience, to show strength.”

“It’s a concert in the evening,” Ward added. “It’s a pow wow during the day. Everybody is welcome. All nations are welcome and you’re welcome to participate in any way. Please come see our vendors. Please come see our crafters and food vendors. There’s so much here to offer.”

Opening ceremonies for Wi’kipaltimk 2025 are set for 6 p.m. Saturday.

The closing concert is set to wrap up at 10 p.m. on Sunday.

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