Burnaby residents are invited to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.
The day is marked nationwide on Thursday, June 21.
That evening, Burnaby Public Library’s Tommy Douglas branch (7311 Kingsway) will be screening Maker of Monsters, a documentary film about the life of Kwakwaka’wakw Northwest Coast carver Beau Dick. Register at www.bpl.bc.ca/events. The film screening starts at 7 p.m.
The same evening, the library’s Metrotown branch (6100 Willingdon Ave.) is hosting an author visit by Sto:lo Nation writer Lee Maracle, running from 7 to 8:30 p.m.
On Monday, June 25, Burnaby Neighbourhood House is hosting a Learn to Pow-Wow Dance session at its south location, 4460 Beresford St. Pow-wow dancer Shyama Priya will lead two 30-minute sessions in the art of pow-wow, starting at 2 p.m. and at 2:45 p.m. Everyone is welcome, and the sessions are free. Just sign up by emailing [email protected], or sign up in person at the South House reception desk.
Visitors are also invited to check out a variety of Indigenous activities at Burnaby Village Museum (6501 Deer Lake Ave.). Coast Salish educators will be on hand to talk about the importance of Burnaby lands to local First Nations, with stories, puppets, maps and more. Activities happen Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m., and Tuesdays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. See www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca for information.
Burnaby Food First is also offering an Indigenous food systems walking tour, led by indigenous herbalist and educator Lori Snyder, who’ll introduce participants to wild foods and medicines in the area. Meet at Central Park, at the northeast sign kiosk across from the entrance to Patterson SkyTrain station. The tour is on Tuesday, June 19 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., and it goes rain or shine, so wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather. Email [email protected] to sign up.
