Reconnecting Community and Celebrating Together
A warm invitation for a day of fun and community relations on the traditional Lands of the Lekwungen Peoples, the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Celebrate with us!
An invitation from 2025 co-hosts and partners to join us on Friday June 20, 2025 at Royal Roads University to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day.
In June each year, we have the opportunity to connect, learn and enjoy Indigenous heritage, culture, food, and music at National Indigenous People's Day celebrations at Royal Roads University.
The celebration includes the Canoe Landing Protocol, shown here. Members of our Colwood team participate each year to deepen our understanding of the history and build relationships with our neighbours from the local Nations.
The Protocol is from a time when waterways were the roadways between our communities. Families would travel by canoe and wait to be greeted from the shores of the community they were visiting. The protocol brings this tradition to life and kicks off the day's festivities where we share, learn and celebrate together.
Admission
Everyone is welcome, and admission is free.
Schedule of events
10 a.m. - Lekwungen Traditional Dancers and Singers performance at the shore stage
10:30 a.m. - Welcome ceremony
10:40 a.m. - Traditional canoe landing protocol practice on the shore of the Esquimalt Lagoon led by Lekwungen (Songhees Nation) Elder Butch Dick.
12 p.m. - Field stage opens for performances (details to come)
Traditional plant walks on Charlie's Trail along Colwood Creek with Cowichan Elder Kenneth Elliott
All Day - Canoe challenges, Children's field games, Children's craft tent, Frybread station, Food trucks (food and beverage for purchase), Vendors market, partner displays and more!
3 p.m. - Closing ceremony
*Schedule subject to change
Download the 2025 event poster and learn more at https://www.royalroads.ca/NIPD2025