The 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni, or Weaving Words, festival returns for 21st year

For just over twenty years the 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni, or Weaving Words, festival has emerged each spring in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh to become what is now among Canada’s longest running indigenous literary festivals. Since 2005 it has brought indigenous authors, creators and wordsmiths together for an accessible summit of storytelling.

This 2026 the festival focuses on the theme “Yinka Ghunek 'Udada ~ Land, Language, and Story,” bringing authors & performers like Katarena Vermette, Kym Gouchie, G̱a̱mksimoon and Richard Van Camp together while festival originator, scholar Paul Michel, also returns for the opening gala on March 4th. Our city does not have a reputation as a literary epicentre, but well known authors come and return to 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni year after year. Dr. Rob Budde has some idea why, “we’re well known as a destination writers desire.” He also noted, “Richard Van Camp has called our festival the storyteller’s storytelling festival, because it’s partly about the connections between the authors and storytellers that come in.”

It stands to reason that after twenty years of consistently hosting a literary festival, a community would emerge around it. As has been the case since its inception, festivalgoers can access every 'Ut'loo Noye Khunni event free of charge, and be a part of its community as well.

'Ut'loo Noye Khunni, or Weaving Words, festival runs March 4th to 7th, across virtual spaces, UNBC Campus, at Uda Dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors), Books & Co., and Omineca Arts Centre.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

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Space Race: the local dystopian Thrash Metal Rock Opera of the Future

In the vein of King Diamond’s narrative focused material, a local group of friends drawn together through their shared grief of a lost friend and passion for thrash metal, have spawned a rock opera that debuts this month.

Space Race follows a protagonist who rises to the challenge of winning back our planet’s freedom in the face of an alien invasion. The creation of this sci-fi thrash opera didn’t happen overnight. Local musician Travis Moore began composing tracks which would become feature components for the piece a few years ago, initially without a clear direction, as a form of processing the impact of a close friend’s untimely death.

Left to Right: Nick Tindale on drums, David Baycroft on guitar & vocals, Travis Moore on guitar & vocals, Drew Gray on lead guitar

Simply by speaking to friends about what he was up to, others joined the project. The group, also comprised of percussionist Nick Tindale, David Baycroft on guitar & vocals, lead guitar Drew Gray, Marco Perry on visuals and formerly Colton Boyd on guitar, diligently crafted the homage to their fallen friend. The process of healing led to an unlikely, but positive, outcome that they can all be proud of.  While the event will be the first thrash metal rock opera in Northern BC, though Moore notes, “that’s the thing that breaks my heart, is that he never got to hear any of it.” An audience in Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh will finally be able to hear part one of the opera’s two part presentations though, on Friday March 27th, 7pm at Omineca Arts Centre.

Tickets $20 at the door.

- Ian Gregg, CFURadio 88.7FM, Due North News, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter


Check the story out on FrequencyNews.ca

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CNC’s NorthWorks Career Fair Sees Healthy Attendance

Listen Here

The College of New Caledonia (CNC) held its annual NorthWorks Career Fair this February 2026 with a crowd of students and recruiters on hand. 2025 saw a competitive local market for entry level jobs, and while not every gig at the fair was for a first year apprentice, the employers at CNC’s event were hoping to fill myriads of roles with post-secondary graduates and students.

Photo Credit - College of New Caledonia
Note: None of the students pictured here were part of the associated audio recording

Gail Little, Manager of Student Success and Retention mentioned there seemed to be a theme that emerges each year: 

In prior years were more non-profit or healthcare, and this year we’re noticing a higher intake of trades. Mining companies, Finning is here, engineering companies, so we can see that the focus is definitely more on the trades area this year.

While jobs were on offer in the Prince George–Lheidli T’enneh area, many were located throughout BC’s northern region. Students seemed interested in the prospects of nearly every opportunity regardless of location, excepting Vancouver according to one Automotive Collision and Refinishing student. Have a listen.

Ian Gregg, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Two Rivers Gallery Turns Its Ear Towards Interactive Soundscapes In New Exhibit

While we may tend to think of art as something to look at, Two Rivers Gallery has brought in an exhibit you can hear and even feel. Curator Ehsan Mo spoke with CFURadio about the gallery’s auditory experience on display in their exhibit From Far and Wide: The Soundscapes.

Artists Anju Singh of British Columbia, Mathieu Léger of New Brunswick and Ian Foster of Newfoundland and Labrador echoed the idea of “home” as an influential concept for their work, but all presented radically different interpretations in this collection. When asked if the exhibit changed his own experience of living in Prince George–Lhiedli T’enneh, Mo exclaims, “Of Course!” He went on to note disparate experiences park to park, in the forest and on the pavement, “These things add another layer to the way that I understand the place I’m living.”

The interactive exhibit runs from February 5th to April 6th this 2026, at no charge to visitors.


Ian Gregg, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Check out the story on Frequency News


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