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Celebrate National Aboriginal Day on June 21st and win passes to the Royal BC Museum's 'Our Living Languages' exhibit and Klahowya Village in Stanley Park.

Two wonderful places to learn about local Aboriginal peoples are Klahowya Village in Stanley Park and the Royal BC Museum's upcoming 'Our Living Languages' exhibit in Victoria. Two family passes to each attraction are up for grabs. Passes to Klahowya Village can be used up until Sept. 1, 2014, and Royal BC Museum passes can be used anytime up to Dec. 31, 2014.

Learn about some of the other events in the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island areas below, and tell us about events in your community so we can update the list.

Contest ends midnight, Saturday June 21st.

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Events in Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley & South Coast

National Aboriginal Day in Vancouver

Date & Time: Saturday June 21, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Location: Starting at 1607 Hastings (Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre) and moving to Trout Lake (3350 Victoria Drive).

The Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre is hosting a Pancake Breakfast from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. on Saturday, at the Friendship Centre at 1607 East Hastings Street (corner of Hastings and Commercial Drive).

From 11 am to noon there will be a parade starting from the Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre to Trout Lake (3350 Victoria Drive) along Commercial Drive.

And, from 12 - 5 p.m. at Trout Lake there will be a community festival including a Teepee Village with activities for children, lots of live entertainment, arts and crafts fair, and community partner exhibits.

Watch highlights from last year's celebration:

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Klahowya Village in Stanley Park

Dates: Opens Friday, June 21 and will remain open every day until Monday, September 1st, 2014
Location: Stanley Park, Pipeline Road, Vancouver (map)

Set in the heart of Vancouver's beautiful Stanley Park, Klahowya Village immerses visitors in British Columbia's fascinating and thriving Aboriginal cultures. Travel through the forest on the Spirit Catcher miniature train and discover the Journey of the Salmon, watch cultural performances, shop the Artisan Marketplace, sample First Nations food and much more.

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Aboriginal Artists in Residence

Dates: June 2, 2014 - June 28, 2014
Locations: Various Fraser Valley regional libraries

Celebrate National Aboriginal History Month at FVRL! Throughout the month of June, FVRL is proud to welcome artists Darlene Allison and Jay Havens to many of our libraries. Darlene and Jay will be spending their days working on their art, chatting with the public, and presenting programs to registered groups of all ages!

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National Aboriginal Day Awareness Event

Date: Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Location: University of Fraser Valley Abbotsford Campus on the green, 33844 King Road

The University of the Fraser Valley (UFV), will be celebrating National Aboriginal Day on June 17 at the Abbotsford Campus,on the green!

Activities include:

  • Pow Wow
  • Métis Jiggers
  • Aboriginal vendors and demonstrations throughout the day!

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Aboriginal Day of Wellness

Date: June 21, 2014
Location: All across British Columbia

The First Nations Health Authority wants to transform National Aboriginal Day into a Day of Wellness and have every First Nations and Aboriginal person active on Aboriginal Day. There are 99 diverse wellness events taking place all across BC, including back-to-land medicine gathering, canoe races, pow-wows, and horse treks!

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Aboriginal Opportunities Forum 2014: Building Sustainable Aboriginal Relations

Date: Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Location: Fairmont Hotel, 900 Georgia Street West, Vancouver

Now in its fourth year, this annual forum emphasizes and explores the critical relationship, in a current context, between aboriginal issues and economic development in B.C. The forum focuses on helping businesses to understand, rationalize and overcome issues. The panels will feature leading experts from government, academia and business.

Learn more & register

Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) celebrates National Aboriginal Day

Date: Friday June 20th 11 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: JIBC New Westminster campus, 715 McBride Boulevard

Join the Justice Institute of British Columbia (JIBC) for National Aboriginal Day celebrations at the JIBC New Westminster campus. Join in the fun and educational activities planned for the day including First Nations drumming, Métis jigging, and meeting the JIBC Elders-in-Residence. National Aboriginal Day in Canada gives people of all walks of life the opportunity to celebrate and share knowledge about the Aboriginal peoples' values, customs, languages, and culture.

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Aboriginal Human Rights Spoken Word Showcase

Date: June 20, 4 - 6 p.m.
Location: RayCam Community Centre, 920 E Hastings, Vancouver

Facilitated by Kat Norris, Aboriginal Artist and Activist, and taking place in conjunction with RayCam's Reconciliation Event: Where Change Happens. It features an opening prayer, smudge and talking circle, along with traditional food and beverages and some wonderful prizes.

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National Aboriginal (Un)History Month at University of British Columbia

Date: June 2–July 18
Location: UBC's Irving K. Barber Learning Centre, 1961 East Mall, Vancouver

UBC Library, in partnership with the Musqueam Indian Band, the Centre for Teaching and Learning Technology and the Museum of Anthropology, has coordinated a series of events in June.

Aboriginal (Un)History Month celebrates Aboriginal creativity, scholarship, and intellectual traditions. It aims to educate, and cultivate conversations about relationship, representation, and recognition.

The events, which include film screenings, discussions, lectures, exhibits and tours, introduce some of the dimensions of Aboriginal scholarship, and celebrate creative expression and pedagogy at UBC Vancouver and beyond.

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National Aboriginal Day in Richmond

Date: Saturday June 21st, 1 – 4 p.m.
Location: Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate

The Pathways Aboriginal Centre is hosting their annual celebration of Richmond's Aboriginal community and culture on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Richmond Cultural Centre located at 7700 Minoru Gate.

There will be lots of great activities from witnessing a traditional opening, drumming, pow wow, dancing and interactive workshops. No need to register just drop by. For more information or to volunteer contact: Daylene - 604.271.7600 ext. 125 or email [email protected].

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National Aboriginal Day in Whistler

Date: Saturday June 21st, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Location: 4584 Blackcomb Way, (Upper Village), Whistler

The Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre is hosting a full day of activities to celebrate Aboriginal Culture, History and Art. The Cultural Centre is located at 4584 Blackcomb Way, (Upper Village), Whistler.

  • Daily artist demonstrations
  • Kids crafts
  • Traditional bannock around the fire pit
  • Storytelling

Learn more

Fraser Valley Metis Association Aboriginal Days Celebration

Date: June 21, 12 - 4 p.m.
Location: Mill Lake North, Abbotsford

Features a traditional lunch, rattle making, crafts and music. Everyone welcome!

Learn more

Events on Vancouver Island

Aboriginal Cultural Festival at the Royal BC Museum

Dates: Thursday, June 19, 2014 - Saturday, June 21, 2014
Location: Royal BC Museum campus, 675 Belleville Street, Victoria

Join in for three days filled with colour, sound, education and appreciation of the wonders of our local Aboriginal culture, held on the Royal BC Museum campus, outside and along Victoria's Inner Harbour.

During the three-day event, there will be Main Stage performances, an artisan area where people may watch demonstrations, meet the artists and also learn about the new Authentic Aboriginal program which helps consumers identify products designed, created and sold by local Aboriginal artists. There will also be a children's area, food vendors and an AtBC Information booth.

The Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC (AtBC) is pleased to be the driving force behind this new festival which will showcase local Aboriginal cultures from British Columbia. Hosted in partnership with the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations and supported by the Royal BC Museum, Tourism Victoria, Greater Victoria Harbour Society and First Peoples Cultural Council, our goal is to create an annual event in the heart of Victoria that will increase community engagement with the diverse experiences offered by our local indigenous culture. These include dance, story telling, creation of art including carving, singing, and food.

This festival also coincides with the launch of the Royal BC Museum exhibition, "Our Living Languages: First Peoples' Voices in BC", opening June 21st.

ROYAL BC MUSEUM's Our Living Languages exhibit

Date: June 21st 2014 through June 2017
Location: 675 Belleville Street, Victoria

Our Living Languages: First Peoples' Voices in BC is an innovative, interactive exhibition that celebrates the resilience and diversity of First Nations languages in BC in the face of change. Through interactive stations, original First Nations artwork, video, audio and live engagement, Our Living Languages will provide visitors with the opportunity to learn more about the history of disrupted languages in BC, the complexity of these languages, and the people – and entire communities – that are working tirelessly to document and revitalize them.

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First Peoples' Festival

Dates: Saturday, June 21, 2014 - Sunday, June 22, 2014
Location: Ship Point in Victoria's Inner Harbour

Come celebrate National Aboriginal Day in the Capital City! There will be an artist market, drumming, dancing and food.

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National Aboriginal Day at the I-Hos Gallery

Date: Saturday June 21st
Location: K'omoks Bighouse in Courtenay, 3320 Comox Road

Come celebrate the Cultural Diversity of First Nation, Métis and Inuit people from across Canada from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. in Courtenay at the Bighouse, hall and grounds. This is a free outdoor event with music, dance, food and the arts. Enjoy an artisan marketplace, a children's play area, storytelling, performances from local and visiting dance troupes and an Indigenous Fashion show. There will be traditional cuisine, wild Sockeye salmon cooked over an open fire, buffalo burgers, candied salmon and fresh bannock with homemade berry jams.

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National Aboriginal Day at Royal Roads University

Date: June 20, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Location: Sneq'wa e'lun (Blue Heron House) On Esquimalt Lagoon at Royal Roads University

An art show, a medicine plant walk and canoe trips are among the activities taking place at Royal Roads University's National Aboriginal Celebration on June 20. Everyone is invited to paddle in the Power to Be's Voyager canoe or to learn about medicine plants on a walk guided by Ken Elliott, Cowichan Tribes native plant nursery operator. Artwork by middle and high school students across School District 62 will be on display, and visitors can enjoy singing, drumming and refreshments.

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Standing Nation Drum and University of Victoria Summer Solstice Pow Wow

Date: June 21, 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Location: Songhees Wellness Centre, 1100 Admirals Rd, Victoria

This is a traditional pow wow (non-competitive) with dancers representing a variety of categories i.e. Tiny Tots, Grass Dancers, Men's and Women's Traditional, Jingle Dress, and more. Artists market will be indoors. Admission by donation. Everyone welcome.

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Other B.C. Celebrations

National Aboriginal Day in Klemtu

Date: June 21
Location: Klemtu, Swindle Island, BC

In the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest, the citizens of Klemtu will be celebrating National Aboriginal Day with a parade, potluck dinner of traditional foods and then a night of traditional cultural songs and dancing.

Nuxalk Radio Open House

Date: June 21, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Location: Trailer #3 Mackenzie St, Bella Coola

Visit Bella Coola's first community radio station. Learn how you can take part!

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National Aboriginal Day at University of Northern British Columbia

Date: June 21, 9 a.m.
Location: UNBC outside of the First Nations Centre, 3333 University Way, Prince George, BC

Arts and crafts display tables will be set up, featuring the work of Ron and Tracey Sebastian, along with many local artists. Performances are also planned from the Rainbow Dancers, the Metis Dancers and Traditional Fiddlers, and the Alkali Lake Drum group.

Learn more

Check out Aboriginal Tourism BC's site for other events happening around BC

Aboriginal Tourism BC

Rest of Canada

List of Alberta Events

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APTN's Aboriginal Day Live & Celebration

Two HUGE events put on by Aboriginal Peoples' Television Network (APTN) in Winnipeg and Halifax featuring some of the most celebrated names in Aboriginal music and television.

Learn more

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