Indigenous Cultural Event at the Cannery

Richmond celebrates National Indigenous People’s Day at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery with First Nations performances and cultural activities in June.

National Indigenous People’s Day is actually on June 21st. In 2025, however, the special event at the cannery takes place on June 14th. It’s called The Water We Call Home and admission is free. There are cultural performances, storytelling sessions, film screenings and more.

For full details about the event, see the Gulf of Georgia Cannery‘s website.

National Indigenous Peoples Day at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery

Located at Richmond’s Steveston Village at 12138 Fourth Avenue, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a museum that showcases local history and the region’s salmon-canning past. The National Historic Site hosts a number of special events each year.

In 2025 The Water We Call Home takes place on Saturday, June 14th. The First Nations-centred celebration runs from 11:00 am until 4:00 pm. Admission is free for everyone for the whole day, so from 10:00 am until 5:00 pm.

Inside the Cannery on Indigenous Peoples Day

What to Expect at the Event

There is typically a fair bit going on at the Cannery during National Indigenous Peoples Day or the days leading up to it.

From our experience in past years, you can usually expect to see anywhere between a few dozen and 200 people at any given time enjoying various First Nations cultural performances.

In past years there has been a stage outside where storytelling, singing and drumming take place. Nearby there has also been a small number of information booths from various organizations, like the Port of Vancouver and Parks Canada. It will likely be the same again this year.

Performances take place on or in front of the outdoor stage at various times in the afternoon. In the past there has been a small number of seats for people to sit on, but most of the audience stands. The drumming, dancing and other events are both fun to watch and culturally educational.

Tetsu Taiko Japanese Drummers

Event Schedule

Below is the schedule of events for in 2025. (Note: Times and other details are subject to change.)

10:00 am – Film Screening (We Have Stories)
11:00 am – Chibi Taiko Japanese Drumming
11:15 am – Indigenous Welcome (by Mary Point from the Musqueam Nation)
11:30 am – Cannery Welcome
12:15 pm – Storytelling Circle
2:15 pm – “Something Fishy”
3:30 pm – Giving Thanks and Closing
4:00 pm – Film Screening (We Have Stories)

In addition to the above, there are live drumming and dance performances as well as community art projects and Indigenous market vendors.

Strengths of the Event

A few things make the event at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery stand out. One is the venue. The Cannery is a great museum, and admission on the day of the National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration is free, so it’s an exceptional time to go. Between performances and presentations you can explore the historical attraction. (Note: Admission is also free on other days of the year for youth ages 17 and younger.)

In years with poor weather, the fact that the event can take place both indoors and outdoors is also a huge advantage compared to similar National Indigenous Peoples Day events in other communities (which in most cases take place primarily just outside).

Another bonus about Richmond’s event is that it takes place in Steveston Village which is a wonderful place to explore. Either before or after your visit to the Cannery, go for a walk along the waterfront. And if it’s a weekend day, go explore the fish market on the docks.

And finally, the content of the program at the Indigenous Peoples Day event at the Cannery is excellent. It’s not non-stop. There are breaks, which is nice. Some of the activities might attract a small audience, while with others up to 200 people might gather. It’s all very entertaining, enjoyable and educational. If you get a chance, we recommend you go!

Indigenous Dancing at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery — Eagle Connection Dancers Outside the Cannery

Event Video

This video shows scenes from an Indigenous event at the Gulf of Georgia Cannery from a few years ago. The footage was recorded before COVID-19. The group you’ll see performing in this video is the Eagle Connection Dancers.

Other Information

To learn more about the venue and the Indigenous celebration in June, see the Gulf of Georgia Cannery‘s website.

For a list of other events at the National Historic Site at other times of the year, see our article about Gulf of Georgia Cannery Events.

To learn about other venues with events celebrating First Nations’ culture on or around June 21st, click National Indigenous People’s Day in Vancouver.

For ideas about other things to do near the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, check out our articles about Richmond and Steveston Village.

At other times of the year, the Gulf of Georgia Cannery hosts a special Halloween event in October and the Steveston Festival of Trees in December. They also usually have something special at Spring Break and Easter.

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