Songhees hosting third annual South Island Powwow

The Songhees Nation, with support from the City of Victoria, will host the third annual South Island Powwow on Sept. 30, National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, at Royal Athletic Park on the homelands of the lək̓ʷəŋən people.

Sept. 30 is a federal statutory holiday also known as Orange Shirt Day. Everyone is welcome at the Powwow and admission is free. Gates open at 10 am and the day will feature the traditional grand entry of Nations, with Indigenous song and dance, more than 80 vendors and a lineup of food trucks.

The South Island Powwow honours and recognizes survivors of the residential school system as well as those those who never made it home. The Powwow also celebrates Indigenous cultures and resiliency, and helps bridge cultures.

“Let us use this occasion to deepen our commitment to healing and as an opportunity to share the vibrancy of Indigenous cultures that have withstood colonization,” Songhees Chief Ron Sam said. “Together, we build a future rooted in truth and mutual respect.”