Please join us in welcoming the Cowichan Tzinquaw Dancers back to our Folk Fest stage. We are honoured to be showcasing this talented group twice this year, for both opening and closing ceremonies. The Tzinquaw Dancers are an intergenerational dance troupe, honouring the traditional Quw’utsun dances and songs from the Cowichan Valley. Originating in the early 1960s, they embody and empower cultural identity and the Hul’qumi’num language with large and elaborate dances that have been passed down from their Elders. The Tzinquaw Dancers are a great source of pride in the Cowichan Valley, known for their powerful, transcendent performance style and commitment to bridging the gap between First Nations and Non-First Nations communities. By sharing the history and stories of the Quw’utsun people, The Tzinquaw Dancers have reached far beyond the Valley, performing at the Opening Ceremonies of the 1994 Commonwealth Games in Victoria, BC, and televised throughout the world.