VICTORIA, British Columbia — Thousands of people turned out across Canada on June 21 to honor the heritage of the nation’s aboriginal peoples, including a gathering at Royal Roads University on Vancouver Island with a traditional canoe landing drumming, singing and dancing.
The nationwide celebration, formerly called National Aboriginal Day, is held annually to celebrate the heritage, culture and achievements of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. At Royal Roads University, on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) people, the canoe landing protocol and welcoming ceremony this year included 17 canoes, with a spokesperson for each canoe stating where they are from and seeking permission to come ashore.
The nationwide celebration, formerly called National Aboriginal Day, is held annually to celebrate the heritage, culture and achievements of Canada’s First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples. At Royal Roads University, on the traditional lands of the Lekwungen (Songhees) and Xwsepsum (Esquimalt) people, the canoe landing protocol and welcoming ceremony this year included 17 canoes, with a spokesperson for each canoe stating where they are from and seeking permission to come ashore.
Victoria News, the newspaper for the capital city of British Columbia, noted that B.C. Premier John Horgan was among the canoe paddlers.
“It’s a great day in June to remind ourselves of how fortunate we are to live here on the unceded territory of Indigenous people,” he told the newspaper.
Groups of school children, including some who came on ferry boats from Vancouver, watched the ceremonial arrival of the canoes and later participated in field games. There were also indigenous foods, craft workshops and a number of vendorsRoyal Roads University, on one of Canada’s National Historic Sites, began as a military collage for 55 years, and for more than 20 years now has served as a public applied research university, with a focus on environmental leadership.
