Today, people from all over Vancouver Island gathered for the National Indigenous Peoples Day at Royal Roads University on the traditional lands of the lək̓ʷəŋən People and Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations.
Festivities were planned from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in which attendees were able to learn and teach one another while taking time to honour the lands on which we live, work and play.
The celebration opened with a performance from the lək̓ʷəŋən Traditional Dancers followed by a heartfelt speech on what the day means to them in which one performer stated “It feels like we’re home today” while gathered by Esquimalt Lagoon’s waters.
Following the performance and a handful of meaningful and celebratory speeches, Yuxwelupton Qwal’ qaxala, whose self-described “street name,” is Bradley Dick, and his father Yux’wey’lupton, known by his English name, Clarence “Butch” Dick, performed a song.
Their song was the beginning of the traditional canoe landing protocol, which would welcome the 10 canoes waiting in the lagoon to the shores.
During this protocol, canoes come to shore in groups and request to come ashore. Those in the canoes represented different First Nations and organizations who were involved in the festivities of the day.
Following the canoe landing protocol, the massive group of attendees made their way to the ground for food, to check out local Indigenous artists wares and to engage in the many educational activities throughout the grounds.
The area was packed full of people with around 2,500 students in attendance and countless others traversing the Esquimalt Lagoon fields, lining up for fresh fry bread, checking out the several teepees set up by the Victoria Native Friendship Centre and enjoying the beautiful sunny weather.
At around noon, attendees started to gather at the main stage and performers from different Nations and artistic backgrounds put on an incredible show.
The performances started off with the Joyful Jiggers with musical accompaniment from Calvin Cairnes and Ry Moran, then the Ribbon Skirt Dancers danced in front of the stage and even invited any and all kids in attendance to come up and learn to dance with them.
Following them, Esquimalt Singers and Dancers, Red Buff, Karen Lee White & Friends and Ahoousaht Drummers and Singers performed.
Coinciding with the performances, voyageur and traditional Coast Salish canoes paired off and raced in the lagoon to a crowd of onlookers.
If you missed out on the fun and celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day this year, mark your calendar and make sure to have the day off next year, because this is a really special and important occasion for everyone living on Turtle Island to recognize.
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