July 9, 2003 – The Hamilton 2003 Road World Championships Organizing Committee is pleased to announce another community linkage through a collaborative relationship with the Six Nations of the Grand River to provide a World Class Aboriginal Festival “A Celebration of Indigenous People” as a component of the Hamilton 2003 Festival.

Today the Hamilton 2003 Festival, jointly with the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and TAP Resources, an event management firm, announced the preliminary Festival Outline of events, planned to take place during the 2003 Road World Cycling Championships – slated for October 6-12, 2003 in Hamilton.

The Hamilton 2003 Festival is strengthened by this partnership with the Six Nations of the Grand River Territory. The Aboriginal Festival is intended to promote tourism and the celebration of indigenous arts, culture and heritage through a profiling of Six Nations cultural resources at this world class event. The Festival is pleased to also announce the partnership with TAP RESOURCES, as the Aboriginal Festival Event Manager.

Hamilton 2003 Festival Chair, Jack Pelech, joined Chief Roberta Jamieson of Six Nations, Six Nations Arts & Culture Chair, Carl Hill and TAP President, Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald on this momentous occasion.  The media conference was held at Hamilton's Bayfront Park, slated to be the home of the Aboriginal Festival.

Hamilton 2003 Festival Chair, Jack Pelech said, “The Hamilton 2003 Festival is very pleased to have the Aboriginal Festival as a main event in what will be a tremendous celebration of arts, culture and entertainment, complimenting the cycling events in October.  The Aboriginal Festival will offer unique experiences for our community and spectators attending the Road World Championships and we encourage everyone to participate; it will be one of the highlights of the week!”

“The people of Six Nations of the Grand River Territory are pleased to extend a warm greeting to the spectators, and partcipants from around the world as well the regional communities to the World Cycling event.  We wish them to come together to share and experience the culture of Canada's indigenous peoples by joining with us at the Aboriginal Festival.” Says Chief Roberta Jamieson.

The Aboriginal Festival, titled “A Celebration of Indigenous People” is scheduled to take place at Bayfront Park, daily, from Thursday, October 9 to Sunday, October 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.  The Festival will feature aboriginal cuisine including corn soup, buffalo burgers and Indian Tacos to mention just a few.  Guests to the park will be welcomed to interact with aboriginal people as we celebrate Indigenous Heritage and Culture.  The Festival will offer five interactive learning centres, traditional music, theatre productions, four daily performances showcasing the dances of the Iroquois people, storytelling and of course an array of aboriginal artisans will be on site.  For a full festival program guide visit www.tapresources.ca.