The Royal BC Museum is honoured to host the 5th Annual Victoria Indigenous Cultural Festival. Join us for three days of spectacular performances of music and dance to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. The festival is held on the traditional territory of the Songhees and Esquimalt nations and each day begins with a welcome from the host nations followed by performances from Indigenous groups from across the province.
Other must-do activities include browsing beautiful wares at the Indigenous Arts Marketplace and meeting the artisans, observing a traditional smudge ceremony, joining an educational tour centered on the history of totems and indulging in tantalizing treats like fry bread, barbecued sockeye salmon and West Coast clam chowder from the Songhees Seafood and Steam food truck
You can view the full program and plan your cultural experience at Indigenousbc.com.
Guests attending the event are encouraged to visit the Royal BC Museum’s extensive First Peoples gallery to learn more about First Nations history in BC. The museum and archives collection of photographs, films, recordings and objects represent 10,000 years of history, collectively showcasing the diversity and resilience of Indigenous peoples throughout the province.
Organized by Indigenous Tourism BC in partnership with the Songhees and Esquimalt nations, the Royal BC Museum, Tourism Victoria, the Greater Victoria Harbour Authority and the University of Victoria.
Performance Schedule
Thursday, June 21, 2018
Commonwealth Corner
10:30 am Canoe crossing protocol welcome
Royal BC Museum Plaza
11:00 am Official festival opening
Acknowledgement and introduction of partners and dignitaries
11:00 am Artisans’ Marketplace opens
11:15 am Totem pole tour with Andy Everson, K’omoks Nation
12:00 pm Esquimalt Singers and Dancers, Esquimalt Nation
Lekwungen Traditional Dancers, Songhees Nation
1:00 pm Hoomis Family Dancers, Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation
2:00 pm Le-La-La Dancers, Kwakwaka’wakw Nation
3:00 pm Alex Wells, Lil’wat Nation
4:00 pm Hoomis Family Dancers, Nuu-Chah-Nulth Nation
5:00 pm Joseph Singers and Dancers, Esquimalt Nation
Friday, June 22, 2018
Royal BC Museum Plaza
11:00 am Artisans’ Marketplace opens
11:00 am Smudge ceremony with Frank Antoine, Bonaparte Nation
11:15 am Totem pole tour with Andy Everson, K’omoks Nation
12:00 pm Joseph Singers and Dancers, Esquimalt Nation
Lekwungen Traditional Dancers, Songhees Nation
1:00 pm Alex Wells, Lil’wat Nation
2:00 pm Git Hayestk, Haida, Haisla, Tahltan, Tlingit, Lil'wat and Musqueam Nations
3:00 pm Le-La-La Dancers, Kwakwaka’wakw Nation
4:00 pm Alex Wells, Lil’wat Nation
5:00 pm Git Hayestk, Haida, Haisla, Tahltan, Tlingit, Lil'wat and Musqueam Nations
Lekwungen Tent
11:30 am and 2:00 pm Cedar-weaving demonstration and workshop by Sandra Howard *
Steamship Terminal and Songhees Cultural Centre
11:00 am – 4:00 pm Canoe tours *
11:30 am and 2:00 pm Drum-making demonstration by Sandy Morris, Jr.
Saturday, June 23, 2018
Royal BC Museum Plaza
11:00 am Artisans’ Marketplace opens
11:00 am Smudge ceremony with Frank Antoine, Bonaparte Nation
11:15 am Totem pole tour with Andy Everson, K’omoks Nation
12:00 pm Esquimalt Singers and Dancers, Esquimalt Nation
Lekwungen Traditional Dancers, Songhees Nation
1:00 pm Git Hayestk, Haida, Haisla, Tahltan, Tlingit, Lil'wat and Musqueam Nations
2:00 pm Le-La-La Dancers, Kwakwaka’wakw Nation
3:00 pm Alex Wells, Lil’wat Nation
4:00 pm Git Hayestk, Haida, Haisla, Tahltan, Tlingit, Lil'wat and Musqueam Nations
5:00 pm Le-La-La Dancers, Kwakwaka’wakw Nation
Lekwungen Tent
11:30 am and 2:00 pm Drum-making demonstration by Randy Henry
Steamship Terminal and Songhees Cultural Centre
11:00 am – 4:00 pm Canoe tours*
11:30 am and 2:00 pm Cedar-weaving demonstration and workshop by Sandra Howard*
*Book canoe tour and cedar-weaving workshop at the Lekwungen tent
