CRAFT STATES
Organizers of the Maiwa Textile Symposium: Tradition & Revival liken it to a writers' festival for textile artists. From September 7 to November 9, dozens of lectures, workshops, and special events bring the world of fabrics to Vancouver. Maiwa Handprints, headquartered in Granville Island's Net Loft, works with traditional dyers, spinners, and weavers to bring ethically sourced and supported products to North America. Turning 10 this year, Maiwa celebrates with the most ambitious symposium yet, featuring everything from a talk on "Slow Clothes in India" to a screening of In Search of Lost Colour: The Story of Natural Dyes. A handful of events still have room (tickets for many sold out when the phone lines opened last week), so visit www.maiwa.com/symposium/ or call 604-669-3939 and be prepared to sweet-talk or move quickly to close the deal on a second choice.

OLD DANCES, NEW DANCERS
The Squamish Nation's annual Youth Pow-wow turns 20 this weekend (July 6 to 8) at Capilano Reserve Park (100 Capilano Road, West Vancouver). Getting under way at 7 p.m. Friday night, the all-ages celebration features arts, crafts, drumming, singing, and daily competitions between dancers from across the continent. There are also concessions serving barbecued salmon, bannock, and "Indian tacos". Call 1-877-611-7474 for more information.