Celebrations across Vancouver mark National Indigenous Peoples Day

Much of Friday included gatherings and celebrations as communities around the country, and across the Lower Mainland, celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day.

A major intersection in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside neighbourhood was transformed into a party Friday afternoon to celebrate the day.

The party, organized by the Carnegie Community Centre with the City of Vancouver, took over the Main and East Hastings street intersection. The party kicked off at 12 p.m. and ran until 6 p.m.

“Empowering the past, embracing the present, uplifting the future: Join us as we come together as a community to Celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day!” organizers shared.

The party, held on xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səl̓ilw̓ətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) territories, had community tables, cultural sharing, and performances from J.B. The First Lady, Mannix, Haida Dance Group, D.J. Angle, Zofia Rose, and Carnegie’s lexwst’i:lem drum group.

“Everyone is welcome to come and spend the day with us as we celebrate,” organizers said.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is held on June 21 every year.

The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) planned its own celebration — skwáyel tl’a steltélmexw (Indigenous Peoples Day) — at the Chief Mathias Centre.

In West Vancouver, artists were at Ambleside Beach from 4 p.m., sharing traditional art with community. Live music and drumming from Squamish Nation members and The Electric Eagle Warriors were featured at the event.

Meanwhile, the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society, along with the Britannia Community Services Centre Society, held a celebration at Grandview Park off Commercial Drive in East Vancouver.

Mary Point from Musqueam Nation says society has come a long way when it comes to acceptance of Indigenous culture.

“Our Musqueam language, like all Indigenous languages, was once against the law — all those crazy Indian Act laws — can’t speak our language, can’t raise our kids, can’t share culture, can’t vote, can’t work,” Point said. “But that is all over now. We are here and happy to share.”

Artist Melaney Gleeson-Lyall designed the official logo for Vancouver’s National Indigenous Peoples Day.

“So this is called ‘Grandmother Moon’, and it represents my late sister, Kat Morris,” Gleeson-Lyall said.

“The middle represents Kat, the wolves represent the community that surrounded her and all the lives that she touched, and the outside is the Salish Eye, which represents the teachings our ancestors left for us.”

The event, beginning at 12 p.m., features performances by Hayley Wallis One Way Sky – Adrian D Thomas Zach Saunders DJ Staniml, and an Indigenous market.

With files from Angela Bower.