From the Gulf of Georgia Cannery official website.
Submitted by Heritage Interpreter Haley P.

On Saturday June 17th, the Richmond National Aboriginal Day celebration was held at the Cannery, presented by Richmond Youth Services and Pathways Aboriginal Centre. (Scroll through the photo gallery for pictures of the day’s events)

The event began with some opening words and prayer from community elder Rhiannon Bennett. Local dignitaries offered words of recognition of the unceded territory of the Coast Salish and Musqueam land on which the celebration was being held. Then, the Cannery was filled with music and dancing! First, from the Pathways Powwow Dancers who took the stage to bring several lively performances with dancers of all ages. After their performances they were presented with the community award from Vancity. The Pathways Dancers were followed by Donda, of the Heiltsuk Nation, who danced with her children.

Throughout the afternoon, there was also a craft station for children and a Speakers’ Corner where you could learn more about the day’s speakers, and community members could also share their own voices through written form.

To conclude the day’s celebration, Sister Clan, a group of five sisters and their mother, sang a mix of First Nations cultural music and contemporary music.