FESTIVALS AND CELLEBRATIONS

This is where the First Nation peoples gather to celebrate their traditions and if you are looking for a true cultural immersion, this would be an excellent way to experience the hospitality of the Aboriginal people.  The events vary in size from small, traditional pow-wows with 125 people including drum groups from Saskatchewan and elaborate regalia and dancers from Manitoba to high-volume events with thousands of First Nation peoples from all over North America.  The Kamloopa Pow-wow is an event that draws over 10,000 in attendance and still only has a handful of non natives attending this public celebration.

These celebrations and sporting events are important places for First Nations people to gather and meet each other, share stories and reconnect with families and are a traditional place of meeting and marrying. The participants are highly respected for their strength and year-round commitment to prepare physically, spiritually, mentally and emotionally in order to compete in these high-caliber competitions. Plan to attend one of the events

The summer festivals are a time to gather, engage in friendly competition, and to affirm the continuity and strength of their cultures. They are open to the public are very easy going fun loving events, have traditional foods, games, opening & closing ceremonies & are fine examples of the welcoming spirits and generosity warm-hearted celebrations.

2012 Departure Dates: Group sizes, seats and departure dates vary, please call for confirmation on

let us know if you require eco-friendly accommodations and/or travel arrangements

Alert Bay

June 15th - 17th 2012

June Sports

July 27th - 28th 2012

Sea Festival

July 29th 2012

Music Festival

August 4th - 5th 2012

Eco-paddle

August 5th - 7th

Bonaparte Pow Wow - Cache Creek

August 12th - 10:00 am - 14th -6:00 pm

Squamish Nation Days at Klahowya Village

Stanley Park,Vancouver

Canoes arrive at 10:30 am August 12th

at Lumberman's Arch Beach

August 19th - 7:00 pm 21st - 5:00 pm -

Ska-Cheen Elders Powwow

Neskonlith, Chase BC

August 21st - 23rd

Similkameen Pow Wow - Keremeos

August 22nd - 23rd

Neskonlith Traditional Pow Wow - Chase

August 27th - 9:00 am - 10:00 pm

Kwantlen First Nation/ Seyem Qwantlen Group of Companies MINI POW WOW

Kwantlen First Nation, McMillan Island- Fort Langley British Columbia, Canada- Kwantlen First Nation Park 23690 Gabriel Lane Fort Langley

August 30, 2011 10:am - 3:30

Wild Salmon Rally -Vancouver Art Gallery

Take a stand for sacred wild salmon and help grow the voice

2011  2012 Festivals and Events

We are excited to let you know the 2011 event organizers have the dates confirmed for us.  Don't hesitate to let us know if you want to want to be on our 2011 Events email list

JOIN US FOR

THE SQUAMISH EAGLE FESTIVAL

December 2011 - January 2012

The Vancouver Cultural Day bus tour

Vancouver - Whistler April 2011 - December 2011

February

4th week-end

White Rock Pow Wow - Surrey

March

March 11th - 13th 2011 Ya-xwa Pow Wow - Port Coquitlam

April

16th - May 1st

4th annual Seabird Island Tulip Festival - Seabird Island - Agassiz

last week-end

10th Annual Delta School District Pow Wow - North Delta

May

28th, 29th

Seabird Island 41st Annual  Festival - Agassiz

June

1st week-end

Cultus Lake Indian Festival - Chilliwack

1st week-end

Lil/wat Celebrations - Mount Currie

12th - 13th - 14th

Skidegate Days - Haida Gwaii - Queen Charlotte Islands

21st

National Aboriginal Day Celebrations - throuout Canada

Aboriginal Solidarity Day, June 21, was declared by the federal government in 1996 after more than 12 years of lobbying by activists in the National Indian Brotherhood (now known as the Assembly of First Nations). It was intended as a day to recognize and honour aboriginal peoples in our country.

The Assembly of First Nations recommends that what is really required is a National Day of Reconciliation between Aboriginal and non-aboriginal peoples in our country.

18th, 19th, 20th -21st

Alert Bay 51st June Sports

19th -20th - 21st

Traditional Father's Day Pow Wow - Chief Will-Yum Campground Williams Lake

20th

National Aboriginal Day Celebrations - Kelowna

20th

National Aboriginal Day Xa:ytem Celebrations - Mission

21st

National Aboriginal Day Celebrations - Quaaout Lodge - Chase

21st

National Aboriginal Day Celebrations - McDonald Park - Kamloops

23rd

National Aboriginal Day Celebrations - Trout Lake Community Centre

July

10th - 11th - 12th

Squamish Nation 22nd Annual Pow Wow - Capilano Reserve Park - West Vancouver

17th, 18th - 19th

Sqilax Pow Wow - Chase

20th

Switzmalph Cultural Day and Pow Wow - Salmon Arm

24th, 25th & 26th

Spirit of the People Pow Wow - Chilliwack

July 24 th, 25th - 26th

Alert Bay Sea Fest Celebrations

July 31st - August 2nd

Kamloopa Pow Wow - Kamloops

August 7th - 9th

Bonaparte Pow Wow - Cache Creek

August 12th - 10:00 am - 14th -6:00 pm

Squamish Nation Days at Klahowya Village

Stanley Park,Vancouver

Canoes arrive at 10:30 am August 12th

at Lumberman's Arch Beach

August 21st - 23rd

Similkameen Pow Wow - Keremeos

August 22nd - 23rd

Neskonlith Traditional Pow Wow - Chase

November 21st - 22nd

Fraser Valley Bald Eagle Festival - Harrison

53rd Annual Cultus Lake War Canoe Race Group Bus Tour  

June 4th & 5th, 2011  

Departs From: Vancouver    

Number of Guests: Group Tours Minimum 20 guest      

Location: Fraser Valley  

Cultus Lake Courtesy Bob Herger

The 53rd Annual Cultus Lake water sports event has paddlers traveling from the Lower mainland, Vancouver Island and Washington state to compete in dug out cedar war canoes up to 50 feet long. Plan to savour the Salmon BBQ and native arts and crafts.

     
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.          

Every summer, Salish waterways are filled with the sounds of crowds cheering their favorite canoes. On the water, the pullers strive to out-distance the competition in their sleek boats. They know they are part of a canoe racing heritage going back over a hundred years and of a canoeing legacy of thousands of years.  

       
Coast Salish competitive canoe racing emerged in the mid to late 1800s. The earliest races were held as tourist events using the larger style canoes. In 1884, the Canadian Government outlawed the traditional potlatches, ceremonies of great religious and political importance, usually held in the winter months.          

Potlatches went from large, public affairs to small underground private events. At the same time, the canoe races were gaining in popularity. Dances, salmon barbecues, games and other events were added. Non-First Nations people viewed these events as economic tourism.          

Salish peoples used these times of gathering for strengthening their sense of community and maintaining their culture. They also used them for public relations with non natives. By the 1930s several of these events had grown to draw many thousands of visitors. Today, the canoeing season lasts from early May to late August/early September.

Trip Inclusions:

• 7-hour guided tour
• Admission to races
• Traditional salmon lunch with bannock, rice and dessert
• Transportation from/to downtown Vancouver with hotel pick-up/drop-off

Seabird Island 42nd Annual First Nations Festival

May 28th & 29th 2011

(3-day group tour Sports and Cultural Event)

Group Bus Tour

Departs  From: Vancouver    

Number of Guests: Group Tours Minimum 24 guests     

Location: Fraser Valley  

Trip Inclusions:

• 7-hour guided tour
• Admission to festival
• Traditional salmon lunch with bannock, rice and dessert
• Transportation from/to downtown Vancouver with hotel pick-up/drop-off

Seabird Island saw its first Water Canoe Festival back in the early 1900’s. When a local businessman, Mr. Ledoux, and 2 members, Mr. and Mrs. Charles, of the Seabird Band organized the first festival. While racers from neighboring First Nation’s communities were the only participants, the organizer’s persisted in recruiting racers from the United States and provinces. Their persistence did pay off in the long run. In subsequent years more than twenty-two First Nations gather at the festival. 1/3 of the spectators are avid war canoe race fans.

The Festival draws tourists and spectators from Europe, United States and the Provinces to the two and a half-day event.  The Festival’s highlight is the First Nation’s Traditional War Canoe Races, which attracts a third of the guests and visitors.

Another Big Attraction is the Traditional BBQ Salmon Dinner prepared by the Charles family.  Grand Chief Charles started serving this delicious meal since the Festival began in 1969.

The Festival also features a variety of sporting events: children’s, youth, and men’s and ladies soccer tournament, which attract ½ of the visitors. Ball Hockey and Co-ed Two Pitch were introduced later and now has a large following. Participants are First Nation’s peoples from through the Provinces of Canada and the United States. The Festival is an occasion to foster pride and time to celebrate the athletic abilities of our Aboriginal athletes.

The Festival also offers the opportunity for guests to participate in cultural performances and demonstrations by First Nation people as well as purchasing originally crafted Arts and crafts from local and distant artisans.

120 volunteers help organize and operate this huge event, Community members, staff, daycare and pre-school workers all participate as well as some of our sponsors.

Departs From: - Varies

Location: Vancouver.

Group Size: minimum 6 guests; maximum 10 - 100 guests depending on accommodation & transportation capacity of villages.

Attending First Nations Events and Celebrations is stepping into a culture.  Most of the locations are off the beaten track and involve staying in everything from magnificent rooms to rural accommodations in a family home.

Price Details:

*Price is per person based on double occupancy.

Package Includes:

• 2 nights' accommodation
• meals
• Admission to the festivals
• transportation
• guide

Some of the Highlights of this package:

Contact Talking Totem Tours if you want to have an exhilarating cultural experience.

Ph: 1.250.444.7077