The Gulf of Georgia Cannery was the focal point on Saturday for the celebration of National Indigenous Peoples Day 2025.
It was also the occasion for the second anniversary of The Water We Call Home: Indigenous Women’s Connections to Water, Fish and Family Around the Salish Sea.
The announcement of the special day stated it was in recognition of the “fundamental contributions that First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation have made to the identity and culture of all Canadians.”
The celebration was part of the traditional recognition of the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. On or around this date, many First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities gather to celebrate their cultures, languages, and traditions.
Because it is a time of renewal and reflection, the summer solstice has encouraged reconnection and celebration for generations for many Indigenous peoples.
The Indigenous Women’s Connections is a central part of this celebration, with its recognition and re-establishment of the strong links between Indigenous communities and their traditions and practices.
This is especially true of their integral involvement with West Coast fishing and canning.
A descriptive poster explained that the group of Indigenous women first assembled between 2020 and 2022 on Galiano Island. Their purpose was to reconnect with their ancestral association with fish, water and family. Their project was documented with video, sound and photographs.
The result of these two celebrations – Indigenous Day and The Water We Call Home – was an assembly of displays and activities at the Cannery.
Admission was free for this special day.
The celebration also featured Japanese drummers from Chibi Taiko group who performed on the Cannery stage.
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