The Upper Stó:lō Indigenous Day celebration and the Ruby Creek Gallery's First Nation Bead-a-thon saw plenty of participation despite the rain on Saturday (June 21) in Hope.
Dancing, beadwork, pie-eating contests, and many more activities took place in both Memorial Park and the Sq’ewa:lxw First Nation Community Hall, during National Indigenous Peoples Day. The events celebrated the histories, cultures, and futures of the Indigenous communities in the Hope area.
"I don't think a little bit of rain is going to scare us today," said Chawathil Coun. Rhoda Peters. "This is our day, National Indigenous Day. It's a time for us to come together and celebrate. It's a time for us to take pride in who we are. And it's a time to stand up. To let other people know who we are and that we're here. And that we aren't going anywhere."
In Memorial Park, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., residents were able to attend the Upper Stó:lō Indigenous Day celebration hosted by Chawathil First Nation, Yale First Nation, Shxw'ōwhámel First Nation, and Fraser-Cascade School District 78 Indigenous Education. The event was emceed by Chawathil Coun. Monica Florence and started with storytelling by Chawathil Elder Patrica "Pat" John, who regaled the crowd with Stó:lō stories about the land, its history and its relationship with the people. Afterwards, the mic was open for people to speak, share stories or perform. Lunch was provided by Reimer's Food Truck and J&R Bannock.
The big highlights of the celebration, however, were the war cry contest and pie-eating contest that took place in the afternoon. Members of Yale, Chawathil, and Shxw'ōwhámel were invited onstage to show off their best war cry. For the pie-eating contest, contestants could not use their hands. First place took home $100, second place took home $60, and third place took home $40.
For people wanting to celebrate out of the rain, Ruby Creek Art gallery hosted a First Nation Bead-a-thon. During the event, attendees could watch Indigenous beaders work, and learn about the art of beading from them. Vendors were also on site and Trena in the Kitchen provided food.
The District of Hope also acknowledged National Indigenous Day with a message about Hope's Indigenous history and present.
"(We) honour this day with reflection, respect, and community connection," the district said via social media. "The site where the district now stands was once ts’qo:ls — a vibrant Stó:lō community and a major hub for trade, travel, and connection. The Stó:lō people have lived in the Fraser Valley for thousands of years. Their stories, art, and ceremonies continue to shape and enrich our community."
