With a crowd of thousands gathered to watch 害羞草研究所� at least 3,000 of which were students 害羞草研究所� canoes floated across the waters of the Esquimalt Lagoon to the shores of the Royal Roads University campus on Wednesday, with a leader from each boat stopping to ask permission to come ashore.
The ceremony has been performed on the lands of the Lekwungen and Xwsepsum peoples for generations, and on this occasion it was the job of Lekwungen Elder Yux害羞草研究所檞ey害羞草研究所檒upton, or Butch Dick as he害羞草研究所檚 known by his English name to some, to grant each party permission to land, officially kicking off this year害羞草研究所檚 National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations at the university.
With the canoes on dry land, drumming and singing followed before elders and organizers made their way up to the main event grounds for opening remarks and the rest of the day害羞草研究所檚 activities.
There, even more people were waiting to watch performances while others stood in line at food trucks, browsed the many artisan booths, or explored tepees where they could hear stories told by elders, or learn Indigenous languages.
What started as a small event organized by a handful of people has now grown into a massive community event which sees people visit from far and wide.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 overwhelming. We started this with a handful of canoes and a handful of people, but over the years it has grown and the word has gotten out that it is a fun and safe gathering,害羞草研究所� said Dick. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 attracted many nations here, along with our friends from many different communities. It害羞草研究所檚 heartfelt, and it害羞草研究所檚 just a good gathering.害羞草研究所�
Dick said the event is about creating understanding between people, and promoting the belief of 害羞草研究所渙ne world, one people.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 the way it should be,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here is a lot of good work going on in all the school communities, and this is just an add-on to that. It害羞草研究所檚 human contact, where you can actually talk to an elder, or a dancer, a canoe paddler.害羞草研究所�
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