[BCMA] NEWS RELEASE - Luminous Waters Returns for National Indigenous History Month

Mon May 27 15:37:28 PDT 2024

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NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

May 27, 2024

Luminous Waters Returns for National Indigenous History Month

Abbotsford, BC – The popular puppet performance, coordinated annually by The Reach Gallery Museum, is slated for three performances in June including the Vancouver International Children’s Festival in Vancouver on Saturday, June 1.

Since 2020, the Luminous Waters puppet performance has become a beloved community event. This spectacular performance brings to life three giant, illuminated puppets to tell the story of Semá:th X̱ó:tsa (Sumas Lake) before it was first drained 100 years ago. The performance is based on the children’s book Semá:th X̱ó:tsa: Sts’ólemeqwelh Sx̱ó:tsa/Sumas Lake: Great-Gramma’s Lake which was co-authored by museum staff and Stó:lō collaborators and knowledge keepers and published by The Reach Gallery Museum. The book follows a young boy and his grandmother as she shares memories of the abundant wildlife that once inhabited the lake.

The 2024 presentation features student performers from Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts (ASIA) – Sumas Mountain who have worked with mentors Tamara Unroe and Ana Horner to design a family-friendly performance to share this important piece of local Indigenous history.

Fraser Valley audiences can catch the performance at 7pm on Monday, June 3 at the Matsqui Centennial Auditorium (32315 South Fraser Way). All ages are welcome, tickets are $7.50 for adults and $5.00 for children 12 and under.

Purchase tickets at https://thereach.ca/programs-events/ or by calling 604-864-8087. Limited tickets will be available at the door.

Additional performances for school groups will take place on Wednesday, June 5. Contact The Reach directly for more information about booking a school group.

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Media Contact:

Andrea Orlosky

Curator of Learning and Community Engagement

The Reach Gallery Museum Abbotsford

Email: aorlosky at thereach.ca<mailto:aorlosky at thereach.ca> T: 604-864-8087 ext. 124

Thumbnail images. High-res versions available.

[A puppet of a fox in front of a crowd  Description automatically generated]

Performer Ava Gardner lets the audience get up close and personal with one of the puppets. Photo by Dale Klippenstein.

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Heron and sturgeon puppets tell the story of Sumas Lake prior to its drainage 100 years ago. Photo by Dale Klippenstein.

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Audiences delight at the giant puppets in Luminous Waters. Tickets for the June 3 performance are on sale now. Photo by Dale Klippenstein.

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Laura Schneider (she/her)
Executive Director
t 604.864.8087 x 125

The Reach is located on Stó:lō Téméxw,
in the unceded territory of the
Semá:th, Mathxwí, and Leq’á:mel First Nations.

Hours of  Operation:
                                               Tues, Wed, Fri  10am-5pm
                                                                      Thurs  10am-8pm
                                                                  Sat  12-5pm

The Reach Gallery Museum
32388 Veterans Way
Abbotsford, BC  V2T 0B3
www.thereach.ca<http://www.thereach.ca/>

Follow us on Instagram<https://www.instagram.com/thereachgallery/>
Follow us on Twitter<https://twitter.com/TheReach>
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