Jun
3
By Trudy Chiswell
Dance, Food and Arts – Be Our Guest! This is the greeting on the Aboriginal web site for the Aboriginal Cultural Festival on June 19, 20 and 21. Join the celebration! The festival is a great opportunity to enjoy the uniqueness of our First Nations people, their arts and culture. It has been over eight years since the Royal BC Museum has been the host of the outdoor event. It’s a great opportunity for locals and visitors to enjoy the more than 30 scheduled performances on the stage at the Museum, including the three-time hoop dance world champion Alex Wells. Come enjoy clam chowder, fry-bread and many more treats at the outdoor dining area. A walking tour is planned to take guests from RBCM to Songhees Point, providing First Nations interpretative history and points of interest, as well as storytelling, and a children’s area. The festival also coincides with the launch of the Royal BC Museum exhibition ‘Our Living Languages’ and National Aboriginal Day, June 21. Mark your calendar and come join the fun. Appreciate the amazing history of our First Nations People. For more details on the schedule, check out the website: https://www.aboriginalbc.com/events/aboriginal-cultural-festival/. Or the RBCM website:
The three day event is spearheaded by The Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC in partnership with the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations. Sponsors include Royal BC Museum, Tourism Victoria, Greater Victoria Harbour Authority, and First Peoples Cultural Council.
Sunday, June 21, is also Victoria’s largest event celebrating National Aboriginal Day at the Ship Point festival site with an Artists Market from 11am to 5pm. Performances start at 11 am featuring Unity Drummers and Singers. Everyone is welcome to this free event.