3 Things To Do This Weekend For National Indigenous Peoples Day

It’s all-too-easy to recite a land acknowledgement when we’re about to enjoy culture in the city. Plays, concerts, films—we’ve heard them on every occasion. But do they do justice to the lived experiences and depth of culture that exists on the land on which we live, work and play? 

This Saturday is National Indigenous Peoples Day, and there are a bevy of Indigenous creators, artists, performers, auteurs and more to really celebrate, whether that’s through dancing the night away, eating bannock at a food truck in the middle of the street or taking in the richness of cinema.

Here are three super-fun, no-excuse reasons to celebrate the people and cultures that were here long before we were “Vancouver.”

1. Carnegie Centre Block Party

Starting at noon at Main and Hastings, the Carnegie Community Centre will be hosting its third annual National Indigenous peoples Day Celebration Block Party on June 21. The xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), and Səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations have teamed up with the city of Vancouver to block off the street and showcase Indigenous talent, such as Nuxalk/Onondaga hip hop artist JB the First Lady, Revelstoke indie-rockers the Jez Dylan Bonham Band and Plains Cree rapper, TALON.

Plus, there will be cultural sharing activities and a vendor village.

Main and Hastings, June 21, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

2. Hotlatch

If you haven’t heard of Hotlatch yet, do you even party? This queer dance party and drag show pops up at the Birdhouse for a special National Indigenous Peoples Day event. Featuring Squamish DJs Paisley Eva and O Show, plus Mohawk DJ Kota and DJ Salish, with performances by Jaylene Tyme (Miss Congeniality on Season 5 of Canada’s Drag Race!), Cheryl Trade and Vixen Von Flex, this event is a two-part soiree. First, the patio party starts at 3 p.m. with the dance party moving inside the warehouse at 9 p.m.

Tickets are $15-$30 with a pay-what-you-can option.

The Birdhouse (44 W 4th Ave), June 21, 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.

3. Indigenous Arts Market + “Angela’s Shadow” at the VIFF Centre

On Friday starting at 7 p.m., shop for jewelry and other handmade goods in the the VIFF Centre atrium as it transforms into an Indigenous arts market featuring local makers such as Lisa Beading, Dreamt Delusion, Renotatio Creative and others. Plus, vibe to the tunes of all-women Indigenous ensemble M’Girl hailing from Cree, Ojibway, Saulteaux and Metis backgrounds.

Then, at 8:15, duck into a screening of Cree filmmaker Dr. Jules Koostachin’s “Angela’s Shadow,” a 1930s-set drama starring Sera-Lys McArthur (Pretty Hard Cases, Outlander). After the film, Koostachin with cast members Asivak Koostachin and Renae Morriseau will be doing a Q&A.

VIFF Centre (1181 Seymour St.), June 20, 7 p.m.