Indigenous Peoples Day Events within syilx homelands

The syilx Nation is hosting a number of celebrations in honour of sqilx’w day

By

and

●

,

●

Community members gather in the middle of the Okanagan Indian Band’s Cultural Arbor during its grand reopening event on May 28. Photo by Aaron Hemens

In honour of sqilxw day (National Indigenous Peoples Day) on June 21, the syilx Nation is hosting celebrations across the territory.

nq’maplqs- Okanagan Indian Band – Day-long Celebration
Where: Komasket Park, “Westside Road, Vernon”
When: Tuesday, June 21, 5 am-5pm+ (event ends with a dinner served at 5pm)
Cost: Free

The Okanagan Indian Band has a full-day gathering of celebrations and activities scheduled at Komasket Park, beginning with a canoe journey and sunrise ceremony at 5 a.m. and ending with a community dinner at 5 p.m. 

Woven in throughout the day are activities such as a community breakfast made by chief and council, a “Run for the Drum” event for all ages, a scavenger hunt, bingo and a stick game tournament with a chance to win up to $500. Other cultural knowledge transfers include language signs, drum sticks, gaff hooks and more. For Youth, there will also be a bouncy house, face painting and a language activity.

Ki-Low-Na Friendship Society – Turtle Island Festival
Where: 400 to 500 block of Leon Ave., “Kelowna”
When: Tuesday, June 21, 9am-9pm
Cost: Free

The Friendship Society is hosting its annual Turtle Island Festival on the same day, and the event will feature a mini powwow, live entertainment, food, arts, crafts and more.

Sncewips Heritage Museum – Summer Spectacular
Where: Pine Stadium, 1900 Quail Lane, “Kelowna”
When: Saturday, June 18 from 11am-4pm
Cost: Free

The Sncewips Heritage Museum is putting its own spin on the National Indigenous Peoples Day with outdoor activities for the whole family as well as entertainment, food and more.


Kelowna Falcons Baseball Game – Every Child Matters 
Where: 551 Recreation Avenue, “Kelowna”
When: Saturday, June 18, 6:35pm
Cost: Free

Join the Kelowna Falcons for a special game honouring Every Child Matters as the team faces off against the Kamloops North Paws. The Falcons will be wearing “Every Child Matters” jerseys and hosting the Westbank First Nation community. The event will feature Indigenous vendors, drumming, singing and traditional dancers. Guests are encouraged to wear orange.

Self-Guided Art Tour – Westbank First Nation
Where: Westbank – Various locations
When: Any daylight hours
Cost: Free

If you’re looking for something low key, take the Westbank First Nation’s public art walking tour. The journey features 14 installations across Westbank that highlight the work of many Indigenous artists. The full tour takes approximately 90 minutes, and is a great way to learn about local Indigenous culture and history through artwork.

Author

Aaron Hemens, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Aaron Hemens is an award-winning photographer, journalist and visitor in unceded syilx Okanagan territory. He is Filipino on his mom’s side, and has both French and British roots on his dad’s. As a settler, he is committed to learning and unlearning in his role as Storyteller for the Okanagan region, and to accurately and respectfully tell stories of Indigenous Peoples throughout the area. Aaron’s work is supported in part with funding from the Local Journalism Initiative in partnership with The Discourse and APTN.

Tessa Vikander

We live in a media ecosystem that thrives on misinformation. Big Tech and AI companies are consuming the work of real human beings and Canadian news has been banned on Facebook and Instagram.

Eden Fineday

And yet, I have hope for journalism because of the work we’re doing at IndigiNews.

At IndigiNews, we embody tâpwêwin — the Cree value of integrity and responsibility in truth-telling. We are committed to our independent, Indigenous-led newsroom rooted in community, accountability, and relationality. We believe storytelling is a sacred fire that connects our pasts, presents, and futures through the storytellers in our Storytelling Lodge. IndigiNews creates space for Indigenous journalists, storytellers, Knowledge Keepers, and communities to gather, learn, and share stories that matter.

As a registered charity, we are building a fire that allows our work not just to ignite but to thrive. Rather than relying on advertising or corporate acquisition, IndigiNews is sustained by people like you who believe Indigenous stories are important for the future of our communities.

Your support is making a real difference.

Our community of supporters, our Firekeepers, make it possible to grow our newsroom, publish award-winning journalism, train emerging Indigenous journalists through initiatives like the ReFocus Photojournalism Fellowship, and publish trustworthy stories that serve our communities across the country. Every story we publish helps fill in gaps left by mainstream media and ensures Indigenous perspectives are represented with care, accuracy and respect.

But there is still more work to do.

As the media landscape becomes more and more uncertain, community support is as necessary and essential as it’s ever been. Every new Firekeeper helps protect the independence of our newsroom and strengthens journalism that is accountable to our many and varied communities over corporations.

That’s why we’re inviting you to become a Firekeeper.

Firekeepers tend to and protect the sacred fire. Your monthly contributions directly support IndigiNews’s Storytelling Lodge, helps sustain our independent, Indigenous-led newsroom, and ensures future generations of Indigenous storytellers have the resources they need to do the work.

As a registered Canadian charity, all eligible donations receive a charitable tax receipt.

If you believe Indigenous stories matter, if you value independent journalism, and if you want to help build a strong future for Indigenous media, we invite you to join our circle of Firekeepers today.

Together, we can keep the fire burning.

— Eden Fineday, Publisher, IndigiNews

Support us now

Latest Stories