Almost a year ago to the day, Kwantlen First Nations opened up the door on a new business in Fort 91原创 designed to showcase aboriginal arts and culture in a warm and inviting atmosphere that could be enjoyed by everyone.
The business is lelem芒鈧劉 Arts & Culture Cafe. A year in, it芒鈧劉s going gang-busters and still growing and evolving, according to Melissa Knights.
Knights is the retail lead on this cafe, as well as other commercial ventures operated by Kwantlen芒鈧劉s business division 芒鈧�� Seyem芒鈧劉 Qwantlen Business Group.
Lelem芒鈧劉 is located in a 91原创 Township facility at Bedford Landing. And in addition to the cafe and side patio offering a review of the Bedford Channel, it boasts a shared amenities room that is used in part for Township programs and the rest of the time provides added cafe space.
In recent months, Knights explained, that amenities space has allowed lelem芒鈧劉 to host a few special functions 芒鈧�� including music events.
Now, in addition to the First Nation-influenced menu, and the aboriginal art that芒鈧劉s showcased throughout the centre, lelem芒鈧劉 is also spotlighting a variety of musical talents, she said.
Having incorporated music into its offerings, Knights insisted, there芒鈧劉s no going back.
This weekend is a prime example.
Join in the journey
Developing lelem芒鈧劉 has been a journey, and under the direction of cafe manager Rocky Nenka, it芒鈧劉s been a fulfilling and rewarding journey, Knights explained.
To help mark the cafe芒鈧劉s one-year anniversary and the journey they芒鈧劉ve taken to get it to this point, lelem芒鈧劉 is hosting a party of sorts this Friday, Nov. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m.
芒鈧揚atrons will be getting a sneak peek of what芒鈧劉s in store once lelem芒鈧劉 launches a menu that has a focus on fresh, flavourful cuisine, much of which is First Nations offerings,芒鈧� she said.
As well as prizes and wine samples being offered, the event will feature more of the music that has helped make the cafe so popular with patrons.
The night will offer the jazz, funk, soul, and gospel DJ stylings 芒鈧�� with a First Nation influence 芒鈧�� of Kwantlen member Luke Dandurand of Luke Native.
Dandurand has been DJing for more than 15 years, playing in major cities across Canada and the U.S., and a few months ago he took up hosting a few Friday night music events at lelem芒鈧劉 cafe.
Dandurand, who芒鈧劉s had his own radio show for the past decade 芒鈧�� Native Love with Luke Native 芒鈧�� is a proud member of Kwantlen First Nation and said he芒鈧劉s excited to have the opportunity to play at Friday芒鈧劉s event in his own backyard.
芒鈧揚art of Luke芒鈧劉s goal is to let people know about the success, pride, and passion of the Kwantlen community芒鈧� as well as what he芒鈧劉s personally accomplished through his music, she said.
Still relatively new, the cafe is being classified as a 芒鈧揹efinite芒鈧� success, Knights said, noting it is attracting not only village residents, but visitors from throughout the Lower Mainland as well as tourists from around the globe.
The hope is to grow lelem芒鈧劉 into an arts and culture hub in the heart of the village, and Dandurand believes it芒鈧劉s already happening.
芒鈧揑t芒鈧劉s a great place to come together, socialize, and enjoy music,芒鈧� Dandurand said.
Lelem芒鈧劉 is located at the intersection of Glover and Billy Brown Roads in Fort 91原创.
