A new Indigenous spot is set to open in downtown Edmonton, merging a traditional Indigenous café with a venue for live performances, music, and art. This initiative, called Kakio Productions, is spearheaded by Edmonton artist and four-time world champion hoop dancer Dallas Arcand. The name "Kakio," meaning 'everybody' in Cree, reflects Arcand's aspiration for his establishment to become a gathering hub for Edmontonians from all backgrounds.
Arcand emphasizes the importance of inclusivity, stating, “When I perform, I perform for all kinds of audiences. All cultures—we’re representing for that community, but with open arms to everybody to come in celebrate with us, come in eat with us, come in maybe do business with us.” He believes that establishing this space in his community's traditional territory is not just a privilege but a responsibility that Indigenous people hold.
Arcand's connection to arts and culture runs deep, and he aims for Kakio Productions to help dismantle the negative stereotypes surrounding Indigenous communities. He commented, “It’s important not only for me but for the community. The community needs it because there’s a lot of negativity out there associated with our Indigenous community—there’s a lot of sad stories out there, and more of our success stories need to be celebrated.”
Operating the café component of Kakio Productions is Tee Pee Treats, owned by Curtis Cardinal. He expressed excitement about bringing high-quality bannock to the heart of Edmonton, stating, “We had talked about this, and now it’s coming into fruition. I think it’s needed in Edmonton because it’s like the core of the Indigenous population in Canada.” Cardinal adds that food and music are intrinsically linked in their culture, and this establishment aims to merge these two elements to foster community togetherness.
With a mission to highlight the talent, diversity, and creativity of Indigenous and local artists, Arcand hopes that Kakio Productions will inspire young Indigenous youths. He said, “This business here is more about legacy building. It’s more about making something, building something even bigger than myself. The vision for that is to make it, build it, and pass it on to the next generations and create jobs for people, create opportunities.”
Kakio Productions is located at 102 Avenue and 106 Street in downtown Edmonton. Arcand has plans to open the doors to the public in the upcoming new year, and he anticipates it will become an important venue for artistic expression and cultural celebration.
