City of Vancouver Prepares to Acknowledge Indigenous History for Canada 150+

The following is excerpted from a press release issued by the City of Vancouver.

As a designated City of Reconciliation, situated on the unceded traditional homelands of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, Vancouver will dedicate events throughout 2017 to the theme of ‘Moving Forward Together”. The events will occur under the banner of Canada 150+, which was chosen to acknowledge and celebrate the fact that Indigenous history here predates colonization. 

The title Canada 150+ is a response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls To Action, using Canada’s sesquicentennial as a time for Indigenous recognition and celebration with all Vancouverites, and as recommended by Vancouver’s Council-appointed Urban Aboriginal Peoples Advisory Committee.

Signature events will include The Drum is Calling Festival (July 22 – 30) set to take place in Larwill Park, The Gathering of Canoes (July 19 and 22) on Jericho Beach, and a Walk For Reconciliation on a date in September and route to be announced later in 2017.

[UPDATE: The Walk for Reconciliation will travel from Sunset Beach to Vanier Park and will take place September 24. More information can be found here.]

Among the many other activities and installations as part of the 150+ Year, The Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS) is mounting a unique village of life-size, Aboriginal housing structures from an array of First Nations traditions on the site of the Festival. Details and dates for this exhibit will be released in early 2017.  

Canada 150+ will be an opportunity for Canada’s many cultures – Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations, urban Aboriginal and Métis communities, settlers, newcomers, and visitors – to learn, connect, and celebrate in an array of cultural activities and larger-scale festivities.