A more thoughtful day for a more complex time

National Indigenous Peoples Day June 21

By Abby Francis
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

From the Red River Jig to drumming and bannock: National Indigenous Peoples Day is celebrated June 21 all over Canada as a day to recognize Indigenous peoples.

Here in qathet, previous years’ celebrations have been held by Tla’amin Nation at ʔahʔǰumɩχʷ Ah-joo-miexw (Willingdon Beach), ƛaʔamɛn Kla-ah-men (Lund), and tišosəm t’ish-o-sum (Tla’amin Nation village.)

The qathet Me̓tis Nation Powell River has held drive-through bison-burger BBQ events during COVID.

This year the Me̓tis Nation will be hosting a small community gathering as a pilot project after the past few years of COVID.

Tla’amin events for this day were cancelled due to a death in the community.

The public is invited to a kindness circle that day from 6:30-8:30 pm at the field at tis’kwat at the corner of Arbutus and Marine. (See below).

While National Indigenous People’s Day (NIPD) is celebrated by many, it has its critics too.

Whether Indigenous People’s Day is meant to make the ‘government feel good’ or meant to ‘share Indigenous culture with the world,’ in the end, there is a common thread through all opinions of NIPD: the value and pride Indigenous peoples have in their respective traditions; whether Me̓tis, Inuit, or First Nations.

For National Indigenous Peoples Day events, see below. For thoughts from local Indigenous folks, see their interviews here.

The Kindness Circle

The Kindness Circle is an opportunity to settle into a new way of being. Through storytelling, we will stand in our commitment to being kind while we connect with each other and deepen our resilience as a community. This is a non-political event. Everyone is welcome to attend. Care will be taken to set the stage for open and heart-felt dialogue with each other.

In this two-hour interactive conversation, Elder John Louie (yaχwum) will open the circle in a good way and facilitator Ame-Lia Tamburrini of Hum Consulting will guide us through an exploration of the importance of kindness in healing our communities, the commitment that will make kindness easier, how to be kind when you’re standing in the fire, and an act of kindness that will change the lives of those around you.

Join us on Tuesday, June 21st, 2022 from 6:30 pm – 9 pm at the field at tis’kwat (corner of Arbutus and Marine). What to bring: appropriate clothing for outdoors, a chair or blanket to sit on and curiosity and openness. Advanced registration is requested and appreciated but not required. Go to bit.ly/3yDXG9X.

In circle we keep each other’s stories sacred, we invite curiosity and we love each other and ourselves unconditionally. We invite you to walk in with these intentions. Please call 604-834-4238 if you have any questions. We look forward to being with you!

Kids’ concert & fun fair by PRISMA

Tuesday, June 21, 6:30 pm, Evergreen Theatre. Free by donation. Tla’amin Elder Doreen Point reads a traditional story with music. Sonia Zagwyn reads the story of Scheherazade with projection and dancer.