Lower Mainland First Nations Events

The Lower Mainland is the traditional territory of local First Nations including the Squamish, Tsawwassen, Semiahmoo, Stó:lō and other Indigenous nations.

Vancouver itself is located on the unceded Coast Salish Territory of the Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish and Musqueam Nations. The entire region is rich in their culture and history.

NOTE: June is National Indigenous History Month (and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day). To mark the occasions, lots of events happen in the Lower Mainland (and around the country) to celebrate First Nations and their cultures, and to show appreciation of being able to live and work on their lands.

Unrelated to National Indigenous History Month, a number of Indigenous events happen in early summer. In 2025 they include Sasquatch Days in Harrison Hot Springs (on June 28th & 29th), the Whey-ah-Wichen Canoe Festival at Cates Park in North Vancouver (on July 4th to 6th), and the Squamish Nation Youth Pow Wow on Vancouver’s North Shore on July 11th to 13th). Check out one or more of these events if you can.

To learn about Canada’s past regarding its First Nations people, and ways to move forward, we encourage everyone to read the Truth and Reconciliation Report and its recommendations. See the NCTR.ca website for details.

Lower Mainland First Nations

Local First Nations

Metro Vancouver, the Fraser Valley and the Lower Mainland are on the unceded, traditional territories of over a dozen First Nations. In the Metro Vancouver region there is the Tsleil-Waututh (səlilwətaɬ), Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw), Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm), Hwlitsum, Katzie (q̓ic̓əy̓), Kwantlen (q̓ʷɑ:n̓ƛ̓ən̓), Kwikwetlem, Matsqui, Qayqayt, Semiahmoo, and Tsawwassen (scəw̓aθən məsteyəxʷ) nations. The Fraser Valley, meanwhile, is home to the Nlaka’pamux, St’at’imc, Stó:lō, and Sts’ailes. In the Whistler region, in addition to the Squamish Nation, there is also the Lil’wat Nation.

Below are some of the best places to experience First Nations art, culture and history in the Vancouver region. It’s not a complete list, but it’s a start.

Hoobiyee Nisga'a New Year Event — Hoobiyee at the PNE Forum

Vancouver Indigenous Events

Coastal First Nations Dance Festival – an Indigenous dance festival in late February or early March.
Dundarave Festival of Lights – the winter festival features decorated Christmas trees as well as live entertainment on a number of Saturdays. Around the first Saturday in December is the Dundarave Nativity Paddle Songs event which features Indigenous performers.
Hoobiyee – celebrations of the Nisga’a New Year. The event includes traditional storytelling, singing and dancing at the PNE Forum in February or March.
National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – September 30th is a day to remember and reflect on the injustices regarding Indigenous residential schools and other historic injustices against Canada’s First Nations peoples. (See below for more details.)
National Indigenous Peoples Day – June 21st is a day to celebrate Indigenous culture in Canada. Events take place on that day and during that week at various locations across Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.
Osprey Festival – a small nature and Indigenous-themed event that takes place some years, but not every year. The festival celebrates the life of Chief Dan George, who was a famous Canadian actor, activist and local First Nation’s leader.
Sasquatch Days – a festival in Harrison Hot Springs. The event includes war canoe races, a salmon BBQ and local aboriginal cultural performances in June.
Stalew Nation Celebrations – a free one-day event at the Fort Langley Historic Site featuring a market, cultural demonstrations and more on a Saturday in June.
Talking Stick Festival – a First Nations festival featuring indigenous art and performances.
Whey-ah-Wichen Canoe Festival – a Tsleil-Waututh Nation canoe racing event at North Vancouver’s Cates Park in June or July.

Dancers of Damelahamid — Coastal First Nations Dance Festival

Vancouver Indigenous-Related Attractions

Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art – an exceptional place for First Nations art.
Museum of Anthropology – a museum at UBC featuring First Nations art. Totems and other anthropological artifacts and information are also present.
Stanley Park’s Totem Poles – a collection of Indigenous art in the southeast corner of Vancouver’s Stanley Park.
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre – located in the Upper Village at Whistler, the centre includes a Lil’wat Istken and Squamish Longhouse, theatre, archival museum and contemporary gallery.
BC Sports Hall of Fame – this museum at BC Place Stadium has a very good Indigenous Sport Gallery exhibition.

First Nations Powwows

There are also various pow wows and other First Nations events throughout the Lower Mainland. The Stalew Pow Wow in Langley and Squamish Nation Youth Powwow on the North Shore in the summer are two such examples. Both are open to the public, as is the Mother’s Day Powwow at Trout Lake Community Centre in May.

Click Lower Mainland Powwows for more information.

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation takes place on September 30th. It’s a somber day for Canadians to reflect on the country’s racist history and the tragedy of the residential school system and its impact on Indigenous communities.

The following video is of an event that took place outside the Vancouver Art Gallery on September 30th in 2021 (which was the first year that the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was recognized and commemorated in Canada).

The event in the video was called Xweýene:msta:m ?əkwəsqwel, seýeḿ which means to “call to witness and listen to respected one”. The event featured a traditional song and dance performance as well as messages from local First Nations’ leaders.