Komasket Performers

Who We Are and What We Do

click here to view KMF PowerPoint presentation

Okanagan's World Music and Dance Celebration!!!

Who's Behind Komasket??...

Devaki Thomas
Co-Founder & Artistic Director

Thomas
Thomas Thomas
Co-Founder & Technical Director

Mollie Bono
Festival Liaison

Stacey Taylor
Administrative Assistant, Webmaster, Front Gate Team

Sheila Snow
Performer Accommodations, Sponsorship Coordinator

Elaine Holmes
Volunteer Coordinator

Paul Emerson
Stage Manager Center Stage

Darren James
KIDZONE Stage/Jam Stage Coordinator

Erik Haselhorst & Carol Oddy
Photographers

Donna Felix
Green Room Coordinator

Laurie Kaliszuk
Merchandise Coordinator

Angela Roy
Workshop Tent Coordinator

Rachael Zubick
Komasket Koffee Kaos Coordinator

Austin Partridge
Camping Coordinator

Kazia Mullin
Sponsorship & Grant Coordinator

Celia Auclair
Chief Performers Chef

Joani Mortenson
Info Booth Coordinator

Jessie Brown
Tipi Coordinator

Melanie Piorecky
Media & Food Donations Coordinator

Kevin Makeiv
Transport Coordinator

Rob Kjarsgaard
Kayak Guy!

Hugh Carter
Artists Transport Coordinator

Zarah Martz
Promotions Coordinator/Vancouver

Logan Mullin
Front Gate Team

Jenn Upham
Front Gate Team

Peter Lawson
Site Transport Coordinator

Yvonne Hoogeveen & JoAnn Hansen
Vendor Coordinators

Michelle Robertson
Healing Arts Tent Coordinator

Sameena Sandhu
Chief Performers Chef

David Klein
Performer Meals Coordinator

Gerald Young
First Aid Coordinator

Jasmin Wright
Maintenance Contractor

Beth Southwell
Front Gate Team

Willow Chandler
Photographer

Cathy Sim
KIDZONE Coordinator

Jodi Gerich
Festival Survey, Raffle & Prizes Coordinator

Cliff Harris
Radio Coordinator

Steve Latrans
Tear Down Coordinator

Wayne LaRiviere
Stage Design

David Aslop
Electrical Coordinator

Meredith Rusk
Green Team Queen

Andrea Ernst
Daytime Security Coordinator

Martin Duffala
Night Time Security Coordinator

Brenda Clarke
Parking Coordinator

Testimonials!

from performers...

Mica Lee Williams, San Francisco - "Komasket Music Festival is more than just music.
It is a magical, ethereal, family-style piece of heaven on earth. The land is sacred. The music is international. Thomas and Devaki make you feel like one of the tribe, and you are. From the tee-pee village for performers to the backdrop of mountains, lake and sky to the music all day and into the night, it's the best gig I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of. As a performer, there is nothing that compares."

Profile of Organization

The Komasket Music Festival (KMF) was established in 2002 by local musicians Thomas & Devaki Thomas & member of the local Aboriginal community Mollie Bono. A not-for-profit society was established in 2005 and 5 board members were selected. The artistic director works from January to September of each year and is only paid if there is funds remaining at the end of the festival. Part time staff are hired for the actual festival and over 220 volunteers coordinate and help with the running of the festival and tear down. KMF is becoming known as a unique event in Canada because of its location on Aboriginal sacred land and designated drug and alcohol free which draws many families; and the beautiful historical land boasts traditional First Nations cultural aspects. The artistic director is involved year round with promoting local music through dances & concerts and she recruits youth & adult volunteers of Aboriginal and non-aboriginal backgrounds to help operate these events that fundraise for the Komasket Music Festival.

Location and Community Served

The festival is located at Komasket Park, situated on the west bank of Okanagan Lake approximately 20 minutes west of Vernon, BC Canada. The land is the sacred pow wow grounds of the Okanagan Indian Band on Reserve #1. Festival Coordinators, volunteers & festival attendees are from the local area as well as other parts of BC and Canada.

Mandate

To foster the bridging of our diverse communities in the Okanagan area through showcasing high standard roots based Music, Dance, Art, Children’s Activities & Aboriginal Culture & Arts on the beautiful sacred land of the Okanagan Indian band – Komasket Park. Okanagan’s ONLY Cultural & Independent Music Celebration!!!!

Goals & Artistic Objective

To build a successful gathering event bringing Families & Community together with musicians, dancers & artisans of Aboriginal and non-aboriginal descent. KMF is focusing on showcasing artists who fall into non-commercial genres and who specialize in original cultural music that still speaks to a large cross section of our community. Interaction with audiences is encouraged with the KMF performers to promote participation in the arts.

Organizational Structure

The festival organization consists of:
The Komasket Music Festival Society - 7 Board Members:
Thomas Thomas – President
Mollie Bono – Treasurer & First Nations Liaison
Carole Falkner – Secretary
Jacob Chatterton – Technical advisor
Lyle Brewer – First Nations Liaison
Kym Gouchie – General Duties

Artistic Director – Devaki Thomas – D&T Productions

Part time paid staff:
Stacey Taylor - Administrative Assistant/Webmaster
Elaine Holmes – Volunteer Coordinator
Kazia & Logan Mullin – Front Gate Coordinators
Celia Auclair – Chief Chef
Jessie Brown– Site Maintenance

300 volunteers including aboriginal and non-aboriginal youth and adults help pre, during and post festival.

Role of Organization in the Community

The Komasket Music Festival is an all-ages family oriented event and has grown into a major event for the communities of the Southern Interior of BC. The festival brings an opportunity for local people to experience and appreciate local, national and international artists. It also provides opportunity for local artists to showcase their work. There is a great deal of community involvement through donated services and materials and volunteers. As the festival is held on Aboriginal land it also provides many people with a cross-cultural experience, which helps to develop a greater appreciation and good, working relationships between the communities.
The vendor area provides a forum for local artists and crafts people to promote and increase their business opportunities. This event features many activities for families including a dynamic kidzone with live interactive entertainment, workshops, arts and crafts, parade, jamming and face painting. Other activities include a family camp area, large family beach area, child oriented vendors and a misting station.

Festival History

2002 - The festival was founded/directed by Thomas & Devaki Thomas, of local reggae band Samsara after being offered the land by Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB) Member Mollie Bono for the purpose of playing a concert. The site was set aside by OKIB elders 3 decades ago for the purpose of community gatherings like Powwow’s and it was designated drug and alcohol free. A giant log arbor was constructed which has protected seating for hundreds of people and a stage and lighting for performances. The site is on Okanagan Lake and boasts many large open fields ideal for camping, so the idea of a festival on this site was fitting. The couple invited many fellow artists to play including Vancouver’s beat boxer Kinnie Star. Representatives from the BC Native Women’s Society and many local art enthusiasts volunteered to assist in creating a festival; the attendance was 1200.

2003 – The festival was cancelled 5 days before the scheduled date due to the forest fire situation in BC that summer.

2004 – The festival began gaining a name and artists from Cuba were invited......unfortunately heavy rain affected turn out. The attendance was 1500.

2005 – The Festival began solidifying in people’s mind as their local summer gathering, more high profile artists were invited like Tabaruuk, Brinsley Ford, Freeflow and Toronto’s Blackburn – a grant was received from the BC Arts Council. This was the first year a Festival Fundraiser happened with African star Alpha Yaya Diallo in June 2005 and 2 more were held in October with Samsara, Freeflow and Third Eye Tribe. Festival attendance was 1800.

2006 – Many excellent artists were featured including Tanya Tagaq Gillis, Big Bass Theory, Third Eye Tribe and Coco Love Alcorn. New to the festival were additions to the Kidzone, a Healing Arts Tent, a Youth Stage, Media Tent and overall facelift to the promotion and festival site. A grant from the local Vernon Community Foundation was received. The attendance was 2000.

2007 – International artists were invited to the festival this year including Clinton Fearon, Mihirangi, Sunny Rhodes, Signia, Ridley Bent and the Adham Shaik Collective. The festival saw growth in many areas including a Tipi Talks workshop, upgrades to existing stage, new stage added, community visual arts tent upgrades to festival infrastructure and overall organization. A fundraiser was held in March featuring the favorite female performers from the last few festivals. The attendance was 3000.

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