SAT JUNE 6, 2026
1:00pm – Feature Film Screening
8:00pm – Live Performance
[full schedule below]
[Toronto] On Sat June 6, 2026, LUMINATO brings the magic of collaboration to the Harbourfront Stage with The Power Of The Land, a full day of free programming that showcases award-winning First Nations, Métis and Inuit artists from across Turtle Island joined by Billboard-charting/6x CFMA winners Sultans of String’s Walking Through The Fire project. Walking Through The Fire is a three-tiered offering – a profoundly collaborative Album, live Perf ormance, as well as a feature Film – all created in direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action.
This landmark, multi-Indigenous artist event is free to the public and curated by Elder/Poet Duke Redbird and Sultans of String bandleader Chris McKhool. It will include teachings by Redbird, compelling visual art from Philip Cote (Ojibwe/Moose Deer Point), and concerts throughout the day from each of the collaborating Indigenous artists in Walking Through The Fire, as well as SHUB and Día de los Muertos Collective, culminating with all performing together for a grand performance with Sultans of String at 8:00pm.
A musical multimedia experience unlike any other — audiences will experience the depth and breadth of live music, from Métis fiddling to an East Coast Kitchen Party, rumba to rock, to the drumming of the Pacific Northwest – featuring Coast Tsm’syen Singer-Songwriters Shannon Thunderbird and Kate Dickson, Elder/Poet Dr. Duke Redbird, Ojibwe/Finnish Singer-Songwriter Marc Meriläinen (Nadjiwan), Métis violist/singer Alyssa Katrine, World Champion Hoop Dancer Lisa Odjig, Mi’kmaw Guitarist Don Ross, and Blackfoot Singer-Songwriter & Nevada Eaglespeaker from North Sound — with virtual guests joining in on the big screen!
Earlier that day at 1:00pm, there will be a Feature Film Screening of Walking Through The Fire-Visual Album. Already a Cannes World Film Festival winning documentary, it seeks to “walk through the fire” of historical trauma, truth-telling and intergenerational impact. Film Producer/Sultans of String bandleader Chris McKhool, Shannon Thunderbird, and Kate Dickson will provide opening remarks and a post screening Q&A.
A central theme running through Walking Through The Fire is the need for the truth of Indigenous experience to be told before reconciliation can begin in earnest. Embedded in the title of the show is the energy of rebirth: fire destroys, but it also nourishes the soil to create new growth, beauty, and resiliency. Walking Through The Fire ensures that we emerge on the other side together, stronger and more unified.
The album itself was recorded on Indigenous land at the Indigenous-owned Jukasa Studios, giving Indigenous collaborators full creative control over language, lyrical narrative, and royalties, setting a new standard for respectful and equitable non-Indigenous/Indigenous artistic alliances.
The Late Honourable Murray Sinclair, former chair of the TRC, said, “The very fact that you’re doing this tells me that you believe in the validity of our language, you believe in the validity of our art and our music, and that you want to help to bring it out. And that’s really what’s important: for people to have faith that we can do this.”
Says McKhool, “We know that as a society we can’t move ahead without acknowledging and reflecting on the past. Before reconciliation can occur, the full truth of the Indigenous experience in this country needs to be told, so we’ve been calling on Indigenous artists to share with us their stories, their experience, and their lives, so we settler Canadians can continue our learning about the hi story of genocide, residential schools, and of inter-generational impacts of colonization.”
THE NITTY GRITTY:
WHAT: LUMINATO Presents THE POWER OF THE LAND – a Landmark MULTI-INDIGENOUS COLLABORATION of Live Performance, Teachings, Cannes award-winning Feature Film with Sultans of String, Dr. Duke Redbird, Shannon Thunderbird & Kate Dickson, Alyssa Katrine, Marc Meriläinen, Don Ross, The North Sound, Lisa Odjig & More!
WHERE – Harbourfront – 235 Queens Q uay W, Toronto, ON M5J 2K9
WHEN: Saturday, June 6, 2026
1:00pm – Feature Film Screening – Studio Theatre
2:00pm – Marc Meriläinen – Green Lawn Stage
3:00pm – Alyssa Katrine – Green Lawn Stage
4:00pm – The North Sound – Green Lawn Stage
7:30pm – Don Ross – Green Lawn Stage
8:00pm – WALKING THROUGH THE FIRE – Live Performance – Harbourfront Concert Stage
TIX: FREE Public Event
INFO: 416- 368-3100 | tickets@luminato.com
FULL SCHEDULE: www.luminatofestival.com/power-of-the-land
EPK https://youtu.be/0A5V6Q1Iabg
• Black Winged Raven – feat. Shannon Thunderbird and friends https://youtu.be/ycx9Vw1-uxg
• Tkaronto Reel https://youtu.be/4KYh1OkE2Ys
• Nîmihito (Dance) – feat. Northern Cree https://youtu.be/lICoyJlwh8s
• A Beautiful Darkness – feat. Marc Merilänen (Nadjiwan) https://youtu.be/f-4YIdWOqU0
• Our Mother The Earth – feat. Duke Redbird https://youtu.be/DwsfFgctFX0
RECENT AWARDS:
• 2025 Burlington Key To The City presented to Chris McKhool
• 2025 Cannes World Film Festival -Best Musical Film, Best Soundtrack – Walking Through The Fire
• 2025 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee – Ensemble of the Year – Walking Through The Fire
• 2025 Festivals & Events Ontario – Performer of The Year
• 2025 Festivals & Events Ontario – Innovation Award
• 2024 Folk Music Ontario –Performing Artist of the Year nominee
• 2024 Burlington Performing Arts Centre Hall of Fame
• 2024 Merilaïnen Music Awards–Indigenous Ally of the Year
• 2023 International Songwriting Competition–Finalist with Black Winged Raven, The Rez, and Nîmihito
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards-Global Roots Album of the Year with Sanctuary
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards-Producer of the Yearwith Sanctuary
• 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards-nominated Pushing the Boundaries & Contemporary Album
• 2022 Dr. Duke Redbird Lifetime Achievement Award–JAYU Arts For Human Rights
• 2022 Folk Music Ontario–Song of the Year winner-Mi Santuario
• 2022 Folk Music Ontario–Nominated for Performer of the Year
• 2022 Cannes World Film Festival–Best Musical Film with Refuge
• 2022 Burlington’s Bes t Local Musician/Band
• 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards-Producer of the Year with Refuge
• 2021 Canadian Folk Music Awards nominee for Ensemble of the Year with Refuge
• 2021 Canadian Independent Music Association-Pivot Award
• 2021 Markham Performing Arts Awards-Professional Artist of the Year
• 2021 International Songwriting Competition–World Music–Mi Santuario
• 2020 Folk Music Ontario-Songwriting Award–Instrumental-“Refuge”
• 2020 Folk Music Ontario-Songwriting Award–Political-“I Am a Refugee”
• 2020 Independent Music Awards-Instrumental Song of the Year-The Grand Bazaar
• 2020 Independent Music Awards-World Music Producer of the Year–Refuge
Website: https://sultansofstring.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sultansofstring
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sultansofstring