Today (June 21) is National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Across the Tri-Cities, many residents and organizations acknowledged the day of recognition to honour First Nations of the region, including host kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem).
Most wrote words of kindness and commitment to reconciliation, while others expressed their support through music, art and flag ceremonies.
In Port Coquitlam, students and staff at Riverside Secondary picked up drums and participated in a ceremony.
Not far away, Terry Fox Secondary set up tables in its main commons area with information and food to share while wearing orange — the colour most associated with National Indigenous Peoples Day.
PoCo city hall is also set to be lit orange later this evening.
In Port Moody, there was a focus on teachings of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation today.
The Mossom Creek Hatchery, Noons Creek Hatchery Port Moody Public Library were several facilities that hosted story sessions for all residents to listen and understand, as well as open houses with bannock and tea.
"We wanted to honour the day in an experiential way," Port Moody resident and Coast Salish artist Tasha Faye Evans said in an earlier interview with the Tri-City News.
"We wanted to gather with the community and take a day out to reflect on the relationship with the land and reconciliation."
The Tri-City News covers the ancestral, unceded territories of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem); səl̓ilwətaɁɬ təməxʷ (Tsleil-Waututh); S’ólh Téméxw (Stó:lō); qiqéyt (Qayqayt); sq̓əc̓iy̓aɁɬ təməxʷ (Katzie); xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam); and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) nations, in what is known today as the Tri-Cities.
Scroll down to see how others in the Tri-Cities acknowledged National Indigenous Peoples Day.
Did we miss something? Send us photos or videos of how you celebrated or acknowledged National Indigenous Peoples Day by sending an email to [email protected].
