Fraser Valley » Festivals, Ceremonies & Celebrations

Cultural Etiquette and Respect

Pow Wows have Master of Ceremonies whos job it is to announce who is to dance, and when. Respect the traditions at cultural events and if at any time you are uncertain of procedure or etiquette, please check with the MC, Arena Director, or Head Singer. They will be glad to help you with your questions.

Be aware that someone standing behind you may not be able to see over you, so make room, step aside, sit, or kneel if someone is behind you.

Show respect to the flag and honor songs by standing during "Special" songs and continue to stand quietly until the song is completed. Remove all hats while attending.

If taking pictures, asked the dancer first. Remember common courtesy and ask permission. This is even more important when the dancers are “off” the floor, as this is their own time and space. Group photographs are usually alright to take, but ask the committee first.

March

March 6th, 7th & 8th

People of the River Pow Wow
1st week-end

This Celebration is hosted by the Shxwha:y (Skway) First Nation and is held at the Evergreen Hall, in Chilliwack. It is considered small, drawing 1,000 people and is an excellent example of a good traditional Pow Wow. Zack Cailing is one of the organizers and he does a lot of explaining of what is going on. First Nation Arts & Crafts Vendors, raffles and food are all part of the event.

April

May
Seabird Island 40th Annual First Nations Festival
4th week-end 3-day Sports and Cultural Event

Seabird Island is located approximately 5 km north of Agassiz on the west side of the Fraser River. Structured Salish war canoe races have been a part of Sto:lo's history and are an annual event at the Seabird Island First Nation. Dozens of canoes gather in friendly competition as the Seabird Members hosts its 37th annual First Nations Festival, with attendance of 10.000 First Nations people and visitors from North America.

This event offers a weekend of war canoe races featuring the 11-man paddle and other sporting events, including soccer mixed two-pitch, and ball hockey. A salmon BBQ, traditionally cooked by Hereditary Chief Charles is also part of the event, and a wide variety of local arts and crafts vendors will be on hand.

Held the last weekend in May, the festival includes baseball, slahal open games, ball hockey, war canoe races and soccer. Arts and crafts exhibits, children's activities, Saturday night dance, music, tournaments, cultural exhibits, trophies and prizes are all part of the fun. This First Nation's sporting event, held by the Seabird Island First Nation, is open to the public.

Visitors have an opportunity to learn the culture and participate in cedar weaving with a “make and take.” They are also offering a one hour guided cultural tour of the community’s agriculture and a rare chance to see the extinct Oregon Spotted Frog in one of its few natural environments.

June
Cultus Lake War Canoe Races
1st week-end

The Soowahlie First Nation is host to the War Canoe Races at Cultus Lake where 8,000 First Nation people gather annually for the Cultus Lake Indian Festival Celebrations. Soowahlie First Nation is located south of Chilliwack, BC, between Chilliwack River and Cultus Lake.

The Sto:lo people are known for their magnificent carved cedar canoes, the major mode of transportation in this area before the arrival of motorized vessels . Today many new canoes are being carved and paddled to celebrations throughout the Northwest Coast. The Salish war canoes are world-renowned for their speed and often win international canoe races. Celebrity races, (ministers, mayors, community leaders, sponsors), traditional salmon barbecues and cultural sharing are also very popular parts of the war-canoe race events.
Bring a chair and some sunscreen.

National Aboriginal Day at University of the Fraser Valley

June 17

10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. (rain or shine)

contact Pat Christie at 604-557-4069 or pat.christie@ucfv.ca

33844 King Rd, Abbotsford

National Aboriginal Day celebrates the unique heritage, cultures, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people in Canada. The University of the Fraser Valley is celebrating the occasion with a mini powwow, to be held on the lawns of its Abbotsford campus. 

Organized by the university’s Aboriginal Access Services, this free event is open to the public and will feature dancers in full regalia, drummers, story-tellers, and a $5 barbeque lunch (burgers and bannock). Artisans from across the lower mainland will be onsite to showcase and sell their work, including tapestries, jewellery, capes, smoked salmon, carvings, and dolls.

UFV is celebrating a bit early. June 21 is the day selected as annual National Aboriginal Day because it corresponds to the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and because for generations, many Aboriginal groups have celebrated their culture and heritage at this time of year.

National Aboriginal Day Celebrations
June 21

Xa:ytem

Chilliwack, BC

Xa:ytem is host to the National Aboriginal Day Celebrations located in Hatzic. Event activities include performances, displays, and food vendors, selling Native foods like fry bread and Indian tacos. The gallery will be open and items such as jewelery, carvings, designer clothing, shirts, beadwork, and other unique items. Cameras and video cameras are allowed for personal use only.

The event gives visitors a chance to learn the history and valuable contributions the First traditions had in shaping the provinces history. . There is lots of free parking available.

July
2009 Spirit of the People Pow Wow

July 24th, 25th, 26th

Prospera Centre Chilliwack

Greetings!

The Sto:lo people have a significant Aboriginal Cultural event coming up, the Spirit of the People Pow Wow, presented by the Spirit of the People Cultural Society.  It is a NEW Pow Wow for Chilliwack and the Sto:lo Traditional Territory, supported by the Spirit of BC – Chilliwack, of which Paula Cranmer Underhill is Co-Chair and is making sure it will also represent a significant Aboriginal Cultural Event leading up to the Games.  It is open to all peoples, and they look forward to many communities and nations joining them.

There are no other Pow Wows in BC that are located in such a great venue…The event is already attracting interest from across the mountains, and into the US…people are hearing about this from the “moccasin”, by word of mouth. The venue holds 5,000, and it is a first annual event, a real legacy.  It will be great for First Nations, all Aboriginal Peoples, and will create much awareness around the world, and the planners are hoping that many of their friends out there and will join in the celebrations.  It will also showcase for the first time, West Coast Drumming, through a new category of hand drums, the West Coast Hand Drum Contest.

http://www.stolotourism.ca/index.html .The Pow Wow also incorporates a Native Artisans’ Market and Princess Pageant.  The Sto:lo people look forward to this new Aboriginal  Cultural Tourism event for Chilliwack, the Province of BC, and Canada.

Gilakas’la!

For more information contact:

Maxine Prevost @ 604 798-1023
Email: maxine.prevost@stolonation.bc.ca

Artisan Vendor & Sponsor Inquiries Please Contact:
Paula Cranmer-Underhill @
604-824-5276
Email: scf.paula@shawcable.com

October

November
Seabird Island Remembrance Day Ceremonies
November 11

The Seabird Island First Nation Remembrance Day Ceremony is held to Honor the Ancestors and Departed Loved Ones. The Sacred Ceremony with traditional medicine is a thousand year old way to send a voice of respect, love, forgiveness and gratitude to the Elders for their gifts to us. Call the Band Office for exact location.

Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival
3rd week-end in November

Harrison Mills is located approximately 15 km west of Agassiz and along with Harrison Bay, provide the third largest population of over-wintering birds in North America. Several viewing stations will be established along the Harrison River as visitors make their way east on Lougheed Highway (Highway #7) towards Harrison Hot Springs.

The weekend focuses on the natural habitat of the Bald Eagle and the lifestyles of the Pacific Salmon Every fall, 800 to 1,200 bald eagles return to the Fraser Valley to over-winter. These majestic birds can often be seen perched in tall cottonwood trees, feeding on spawning salmon or soaring overhead.

A schedule of events and guest speakers is available on the web-site. Make sure to take camp chairs. The Kilby Museum is a ten minute walk and lunches and snacks are available.