“Music is a pretty universal language. If people just stop long enough to listen ,” said local musician Floyd Sillito, who is an integral part of a special event taking place in Galt Gardens, Aug. 14 designed to bring the community together.
Numerous performers of all different genres will be playing Friendship Festival 2009 including organizer and old school country music aficionado Floyd Sillito.
“It’s a friendship festival. That’s the idea. The purpose of the concert is creating bonds of friendship between First Nations and other communities in Lethbridge,” Sillito said. The Aboriginal Council of Lethbridge and Amnesty International are putting on the event, which includes performers Trevor Kiitokii, Richard Doeksen, Lance Tailfeathers, Pow Navarro, Russell Red Crow, the Ammena Dance Company and Planet Telex as well as Floyd Sillito and West Winds, Miss Blackfoot Canada Meghan Shouting and other special guests.
“I think it’s important,” Sillito said adding he was happy to help out.
“I saw a write up in the newspaper about Amnesty International and some of the programs they do and appreciated their efforts. It’s very complicated, what they do. So I decided to get involved,” he said adding in addition to music from 5-9 p.m., there will also be information booths, face painting, henna art, vendors as well as ethnic and western food.
“I think it’s a really good festival. In the future, I think we can really expand it. I think we can include some Japanese and Ukrainian dancers,” he enthused.
“I think it will be a really good time. We need variety. There is a really good mix of all of the ethnic groups in Alberta,” he said adding the event will also help raise awareness about Amnesty International.
“A lot of people have no knowledge of Amnesty International at all. So when people hear I’m involved and ask me “What’s Amnesty?” It’s not a good situation,” Sillito said adding he is very impressed with how Amnesty International fights for the proper treatment of prisoners.
“I’m very pleased to be part of it and offer whatever I can offer to them. I have quite a bit of knowledge and experience organizing events,” he said.
—By Richard Amery, L.A. Beat editor/publisher
