Tansi - Welcome

2023 Photo Link & Artist Submissions

2023 Photo Link - https://www.photo-pick.com/online/uxG9Zo6R.link

Artist submissions - APPLY HERE

Welcome

Sakawinow Music Festival is Dedicated to providing a weekend experience where everyone feels welcomed, Included, and repersented no matter you Race, Sexual Orientation, or Culture.

More Info

Sakâwînow Music Festival is a 2-day, 2-night world Culture/Electronic Music festival.

Our goal is to host the largest multicultural music and dance
event held in the Peace Valley with our inaugural event Sakawinow Music
Festival, held on the 3rd Weekend of August.

What is it all about?

(12am – 4pm) Multicultural Music and Dance

Multi cultural music and dance from around the world to perform on our mainstage, showcasing and celebrating it.

(4pm – 6pm) 15 Minutes of Fame

this will be reserved for up-and-coming
talent that will perform in 15 min segments, hoping to provide an opportunity to perform for a large crowd and, giving a platform to new talent to promote themselves.

Evenings - Modern Style Music Festival

DJ’s, EDM,
Hip-Hop, Rap, Rock, Pop.

What else will there be?

Beer Gardens - Open 7pm – 2am

Over Night Camping - Trailer and Tent

Children’s Area - bouncy castles and other games providing fun for the whole family

Vendor's - Artisans, Baked Goods, Handmade Jewelry: Apply Here

Food Trucks - Multiple food trucks with cultural food from all over: Apply Here

How the Sakawinow Music Festival Was Born

It all started on May long weekend, 2021. Clayton Wood, Russell Day, and I set out for a camping adventure at the Williston Reservoir, chasing the promise of a sandy beach, a perfect swimming lake, and mountains that seemed to touch the sky. Spirits were high—until we realized we’d forgotten one crucial thing: our chairs.

With more friends on the way, we hatched a wild plan—why not dig a giant circle in the sand to create our own makeshift lounge? Shovels in hand, we quickly discovered that building a sand amphitheater is a lot more work than it sounds. So, we improvised. That “sand chair” idea morphed into something bigger: the ultimate bonfire pit.

Soon, Sebastian Desjarlais and Corbin Brown joined the crew. Together, we dug a hole three feet deep and ten feet wide, then stacked it sky-high—fifteen feet!—with driftwood. As we built, music filled the air: Powwow drums, rap beats, hip-hop grooves, country twang, Afro beats, and more. The playlist was as diverse as the crowd that kept growing, with campers from all around drawn in by the energy and the promise of a roaring fire.

As the sun dipped behind the mountains, painting the sky purply-pink, we lit the bonfire. Sparks flew, laughter echoed, and everywhere I looked, people were smiling—dancing, singing, and soaking in the music from every genre under the stars. In that moment, surrounded by friends, nature, water, and a soundtrack that brought everyone together, the dream for the Sakawinow Music Festival was born.

The heart of our festival? That bonfire—a symbol of community, creativity, and the magic that happens when music brings us all together.

Meet the Founder: Daniel Desjarlais

Hello! My name is Daniel Desjarlais. I’m proud to be First Nations from West Moberly First Nations, and I’m the owner and founder of Sakâwînow Music Festival Inc. My journey has been anything but ordinary—and it’s far from over.

I’ve been passionate about sports since I was six, lacing up my skates for hockey, picking up a lacrosse stick, and even hitting the rugby field at Fulton Secondary in Vernon, BC. Hockey has always been my first love, and I still jump into a drop-in game whenever I get the chance. Lacrosse was a whirlwind three-year affair, but it left a big impression. Rugby? Let’s just say I was more of a “utility player”—but I was always up for the challenge.

At 12, I joined the Army Cadets and quickly fell for the thrill of survival training and target shooting. By the time I aged out at 19, I had worked my way up to Chief Warrant Officer and Regimental Sergeant Major of my corps. I even completed the “Bold Eagle” Indigenous military program, but instead of staying in the military, I followed another calling: food.

That’s right—my next adventure was in the kitchen. I studied Culinary Arts and Management at Okanagan College in Kelowna, then spent my summers at Predator Ridge Golf Resort and winters at Silver Grill on Silver Star Mountain. From scratch cooking to creative plating, I soaked up every lesson. I even helped a friend open “Jolly Good Spudz” in Vernon, BC—an experience that taught me the highs (and the fries) of restaurant life.

Eventually, I returned home to Moberly Lake, BC, eager to bring my culinary skills back to my community. I cooked at the local golf course, worked in afterschool care, and spent time at the River House before the world hit pause during the pandemic. Never one to sit still, I joined Twin Sisters Native Plant Nursery, starting as a packer and working my way up to sales and marketing.

But through it all, one dream kept calling: building a space where people could come together, celebrate culture, and support local talent. In November 2022, I decided it was time to focus on that dream—Sakâwînow Music Festival.

My passion has always been about bringing people together, celebrating our diverse backgrounds, and supporting local creators and businesses. Sakâwînow Music Festival is my way of making that vision a reality—a festival that’s fun, inclusive, and truly community-driven.

Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you at the festival!

— Daniel Desjarlais

Sakâwînow Music Festival

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All Merch can be found under catalog at the top of the page or button below