The Yisya̱’winux̱w Dancers

The Yisya̱’winux̱w Dancers is a professional, adult and youth dance group whose members represent many of the 16 tribes of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw people.

Many members live and work in 'yalis, Alert Bay, a village on Cormorant Island, near the town of Port McNeill on northeast Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

The Yisya̱’winux̱w Dancers come together to perform by invitation or special arrangement for private events.

Although, Yisya̱’winuxw is the most recently formed dance group of the Kwakwa̱ka̱’wakw Nation—though many members have performed professionally for over 20 years.

Each of the Yisya̱’winux̱w dancers is initiated in Potlatch ceremonies. The dances and songs shared in the performances are owned by the members, and families within the group.

Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw oral history shares that our ancestors (ʼnaʼmima) came in the forms of animals by way of land, sea, or underground. When one of these ancestral animals arrived at a given spot, it discarded its animal appearance and became human.

Animals that figure in these origin myths include the Thunderbird, his brother Kolas, the seagull, the orca, the grizzly bear, or the chief ghost. Some ancestors have human origins and are said to come from distant places. Some of the dances you may see share these stories. Witnessing them is a very special experience.
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You can see them on the Main Stage at the K'ómoks Festival 2023 on National Indigenous People's Day, June 21st at the Puntledge RV Campground, 4624 Condensory Road, Courtenay, British Columbia, Canada, V9J 1R6