National Indigenous People’s Day on the West Shore was a true demonstration of reconcili-ACTION. Members of the communities, stakeholders, dignitaries and hundreds of elementary and middle school students from two school districts came together to celebrate.
The West Shore Indigenous People’s Day festival was organized and hosted by eight Indigenous-serving organizations and held at West Shore Parks and Recreation, June 21, 2018.
“This is one of our favourite events of the year. We are proud to provide a platform and opportunity for reconciliation in our community,” said Kevin Albers, M’akola CEO. “Our entire team in Victoria eagerly joins in to volunteer to make it happen.”
The festival was open to everyone and in the spirit of celebration everything was offered for free to our festival go-ers including food, prizes, activities and entertainment.
The event was emceed by Alex Nelson, an Indigenous leader in sport, who was just inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame.
A packed entertainment lineup for the main stage included Lekwungen Traditional Dancers, Esquimalt Singers, Stzuminus Mustimuhw, Wesley Hardisty, ANSWER Drum Group, Alex Wells Hoop Dancer, Kwakwaka’wakw Dancers and the Indian Bay Singers.
The fields were full of children’s activities including crafts, a story walk, face painting and hair chalk stations, obstacle courses and bouncy castles.
M’akola Housing Society organized the event along side Hulitan Family and Communities Services Society, Sooke Family Resource Society, Island Metis Community Services, Indigenous Perspectives Society, Nil Tu,O Child and Family Services, Surrounded by Cedar Child and Family Services and Sooke School District Aboriginal Education Department.
Our sponsors made the entire event possible and ensured we could reduce all financial barriers to our participants by providing food and transportation to the event for free. Thank you to Victoria Foundation, First Nations Health Authority, FortisBC, City of Langford, City of Colwood, Town of View Royal, District of Metchosin, District of Highlands, Capital Regional District, West Shore Parks and Recreation, Vancity, and Simply Pure Ice and Water.
