June 21st is the National Day of indigenous people in Canada, a day that many Indigenous groups and communities celebrate their culture and traditions; the date was chosen as it matches with the summer solstice, the longest day of the year.

The importance of this day is to learn and celebrate the unique Indigenous cultures but more importantly to talk and recognize the history and the adversities that Indigenous people have faced.

A way to appropriately celebrate National Indigenous Day would be to support Indigenous businesses and services; there are many across BC, a few examples are listed below for you to choose for your next adventure.

·      Monova: Museum of North Vancouver. Hours Wed, Fri, Sat & Sun from 10am to 5pm and Thursday 10am to 8pm https://monova.ca/

·      Takaya Tours. https://takayatours.com/        

·      Skawachàys Lodge – Aboriginal Hotel & Art gallery. The art gallery works 7days a weeks from 9am to 5pm and is located at 29 West Pender Street, Vancouver, BC – V6B 1R3 https://gallery.urbanaboriginal.org/         https://www.instagram.com/skwachayslodge/

·      The Sncewips Heritage Museum. The museum is open Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, at Unit 260 at 525 Highway 97, Kelowna, BC ‘ V1Z 4C9 https://www.sncewips.com/

https://www.instagram.com/sncewipsmuseum/

·      Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre. The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday 10am to 5pm, 4584 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC V8E 0Y3 https://slcc.ca/visit/plan-your-visit/   https://www.instagram.com/slccwhistler/   

·      Wednesday June 21st, 2023 . 10am – Pole raising celebration for k´waxdzi´dzas The Cumberland Affordable Family Housing Project at Cumberland Peace Park, Cumberland, BC V0R 1S0 https://www.instagram.com/p/CtP034uv4k3/

·      Wednesday June 21st, 2023 . 10am – 3:00pm - National Indigenous Peoples Day at Downtown Eastside Women's Centre, 302 Columbia St, Vancouver, BC V6A 4J1 https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=645804984259285&set=pcb.645805240925926

·      Wednesday June 21st, 2023 . 12:00 – 5:00pm - National Indigenous Peoples Day at Edmonds Community Centre, 7433 Edmonds St, Burnaby, BC V3N 1B1 https://www.facebook.com/events/1457773161675146/

·      Wednesday June 21st, 2023 . 3:00 – 7:00pm - K'ÓMOKS Festival at Puntledge RV Campground, 4624 Condensory Rd, Courtenay, BC V9J 1R6 https://komoksfestival.com/index.html 

·      Wednesday June 21st, 2023 . 3:30pm – National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration at xwsзyq’әm / Inner Harbour Causeway, 790 Government St, Victoria, BC V8W 1W5 https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce_mM-thQxn/?img_index=1    

·      Wednesday June 21st, 2023 . 3:00 – 7:00pm - Summer Solstice Celebration with Logan Staats at Performance Works, 1218 Cartwright St, Vancouver, BC V6H 3R8 https://fullcircle.ca/summer-solstice-celebration-with-logan-staats/

·      Wednesday June 21st, 2023 . 3:00 – 8:00pm – Surrey´s National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration & Wellness Event at Bill Reid Millenium Amphitheatre, 17728 64 Ave, Surrey, BC V3S 1W8 https://www.surrey.ca/news-events/events/surreys-national-indigenous-peoples-day-celebration-wellness-event      

·      Thursday June 22nd, 2023 . 6:00 – 8:00pm – A Celebration of Coast Salish Wool Weaving at Monova, 115 Esplanade W, North Vancouver, BC V7M 0G7 https://monova.ca/heritage-resilience-and-diversity-celebrating-indigenous-history-month/    

·      Saturday June 24th, 2023 . 10:00am – 12pm – Holistic Tour & Indigenous Tea offering at SLCC Salish Forest and Longhouse at Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre 4584 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC V8E 0Y3 https://slcc.ca/slcc-events/  

·      Saturday June 24th, 2023 . 10:30am -7:30pm - Siyaʔten Festival at Pine Stadium, 1900 Quail Ln, Westbank, BC V4T 2H3 https://www.sncewips.com/events   https://www.facebook.com/events/1403079907120589/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[]%7D

·      Saturday June 24th, 2023 . 3:00 -5:00pm – Film ScreeningÑ Brother Bear 2 at Monova, 115 Esplanade W, North Vancouver, BC V7M 0G7 https://monova.ca/heritage-resilience-and-diversity-celebrating-indigenous-history-month/

·      Sunday June 25th, 2023 . 1:00-2:00pm – Ages 8+ - At Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre 4584 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC V8E 0Y3 https://slcc.ca/slcc-events/

·      Sunday June 25th, 2023 . 2:00 -4:00pm – Ages 5-9 yo. - At Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre 4584 Blackcomb Way, Whistler, BC V8E 0Y3 https://slcc.ca/slcc-events/

·      Sundays June 25th – September 17th , 2023 . 8:30am -1:30 pm – Kwséltkten Farmers & Artisan market at Kamloopa Powwow Arbour, 345 Powwow Trail, Kamloops, BC http://cfdcofcifn.com/farmers-market/

·      Sunday June 25th, 2023 . 1:00 -3:00 pm – Coast Salish Canvas Painting With Tsawaysia Spukwus at Monova, 115 Esplanade W, North Vancouver, BC V7M 0G7 https://monova.ca/heritage-resilience-and-diversity-celebrating-indigenous-history-month/

·      Thursday June 29th, 2023. 6:00 -8:00 pm – From the Garden: Coast Salish Plants at Monova, 115 Esplanade W, North Vancouver, BC V7M 0G7 https://monova.ca/heritage-resilience-and-diversity-celebrating-indigenous-history-month/