Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day, an opportunity for us to reflect, learn, support, and participate in the celebration of Indigenous culture in our communities. To encourage this time of reflection and learning, we’ve gathered a list of local events, a few interesting news articles, as well as an opportunity.

Events

Family Night Pow Wow

Visit the Family Night Pow Wow at Strathcona Park Tuesday, June 21, 2022 from 6-9pm to enjoy food, culture, fun, vendors, singing and dancing. https://www.facebook.com/groups/346151895529829/

BYRC Celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day

Visit the Broadway Youth Resource Centre to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day – enjoy the nice weather at Sahailli Park, and food served at the Broadway Youth Resource Centre! This is a free event open to anyone. https://www.facebook.com/events/983942188945439

Nations Youth Skate For Indigenous Peoples Day

If you love skateboarding, come check out food, performances, and skateboarding with the community. https://timebombtrading.com/blogs/news/go-skate-day-vancouver-2022

Reclaiming Cree Dignity Book Reading

Hear Darrel J. McLeod discuss his memoir Peyakow: Reclaiming Cree Dignity, June 23^rd from 7-8 pm at the Central Library. Darrel tells the story of how the personal traumas of his youth and the historical traumas of his ancestral line impacted the trajectory of his life. Register for the event here.

Honouring Memories – Planting Dreams

Honouring Memories, Planting Dreams invites everyone to plant a heart garden in memory of children lost to the residential school system, to honour residential school survivors and their families, and support the legacy of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). The act of planting represents our commitment to reconciliation. https://fncaringsociety.com/honouring-memories-planting-dreams

Spakwus Slolem/Eagle Dancers at Kitsilano Showboat

Spakwus Slolem elders and youth of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) are performing at the Kitsilano Showboat (2300 Cornwall Avenue) on National Indigenous Peoples Day at 7 pm. Admission is free.

Indigenous Peoples Day 2022 at Carnegie Community Centre

Carnegie Community Centre, in partnership with UBC Learning Exchange and the City of Vancouver, are hosting an Indigenous Peoples Day celebration that is both in-person and virtual. Attendees will enjoy an taco lunch “to-go”, giveaways, and pop-up cultural performances from 12 to 3 pm. https://www.facebook.com/events/5140398759401531/

News

Sixties Scoop exhibit opens at the Vancouver Public Library

The Vancouver Public Library’s exhibit tells the story of 12 Indigenous children who were survivors of the Sixties Scoop.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/sixties-scoop-exhibit-vancouver-public-library-1.6494179

UBC Arts Grad Aiyana Twigg Wins Lieutenant Governor Medal for Work on Indigenous Language Revitalization

Aiyana Twigg graduated from UBC last week with a double major in First Nations and Endangered Languages and Anthropology, and was awarded the 2022 Lieutenant Governor’s medal for inclusion, democracy and reconciliation. https://www.arts.ubc.ca/news/ubc-arts-grad-aiyana-twigg-wins-lieutenant-governor-medal-for-work-on-indigenous-language-revitalization/

Opportunities

A new, free app – Want2 – provides resources for those at-risk for or with lived experience of homelessness

Want2 empowers citizens to plan and realize a better future for themselves, one step at a time by having them identify a focus for themselves within health & wellness; legal & advocacy; community & belonging; housing; employment; learning, training & skills; or something else that’s important to them, and then finding best-fit resources that meet their needs and preferences.

Want2 was focus tested with numerous groups, including Indigenous peoples and service providers, to ensure ease of use and appropriate language. Its resource database includes 74 Indigenous-specific resources, as well as many others.