syiyaya Days

National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

shíshálh Nation Hall & Grounds | (5532 xenichen Ave) | 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

FREE/DROP-IN 

Cultural Gathering: tipi, powwow drum and bannock 

United Canadian Métis Nation | Seaside Centre (5790 Teredo St) | 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

FREE/DROP-IN | All Welcome

Kin-between: monsters/beasts/relations

A multi-media exhibition curated by Kamala Todd that opens space for the in-between, sharing expansive cosmologies that blur binaries, uphold radical kinship, and question the idea of what a monster truly is. Featured artists include Senaqwila Wyss (Squamish Nation), Siobhan Joseph (Squamish Nation), Bracken Hanuse Corlett (Wuikinuxv and Klahoose Nations), Savanna Todd (Métis-Cree), Candace Campo (Sechelt Nation), and Trent Maynard. 

Gibsons Public Art Gallery | 430 Marine Drive, Ch’kw'elhp | Gibsons | 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

FREE/DROP-IN | May 28 - June 21

World Cup Block & Watch Party

shíshálh Nation grounds (5532 xenichen Ave) | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Raven's Cry Theatre (5555 Sunshine Coast Hwy) | 10:00 am | Live Match: Argentina vs Austria

FREE/DROP-IN

Woven Hearts Workshop

with Jessica Silvey, Coast Salish Weaver & Fibre Artist

Red Cedar Woman Studio | Tsain-ko Mall #305 - 5500 Sunshine Coast Hwy | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

FREE/DROP-IN

World Cup Block & Watch Party

shíshálh Nation grounds (5532 xenichen Ave) | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Raven's Cry Theatre (5555 Sunshine Coast Hwy) | 10:00 a.m. | Live Match: Portugal vs Uzbekistan

FREE/DROP-IN

Cultural Gathering: tipi, powwow drum and bannock 

United Canadian Métis Nation | Seaside Centre (5790 Teredo St) | 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.

FREE/DROP-IN | All Welcome

KAIROS Blanket Exercise with some shíshálh history

Facilitation Team: John & Nancy Denham, tituya Keith Julius, hiwus Calvin Craigan, Dale Sankey, Kerry Mahlman

Seaside Centre (5790 Teredo St) | 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here 

World Cup Block & Watch Party

shíshálh Nation grounds (5532 xenichen Ave) | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Raven's Cry Theatre (5555 Sunshine Coast Hwy) | 12:00 p.m. | Live Match: Canada vs Switzerland

FREE/DROP-IN

Dialogue Circle Towards Reconciliation

with Circle Keepers: hiwus Calvin Craigan, Diane Marshall, Joy Song

Mission Point House (4603 Sunshine Coast Hwy) | 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here 

Cultural Walking Tour: Spoken Treasures

with Talaysay Tours

Meeting location: Sechelt Visitor Information Centre | 2:00 - 3:15 pm (75 Minutes)

This tour focuses on stories, place, public art, cultural memory, and the importance of listening to indigenous voices within shared public spaces. The tour includes time with the Reconciliation Pole where conversations about cultural visibility, truth-telling, remembrance, and the work of restoring respectful relationships are welcomed and encouraged.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here

Cultural Walking Tour: Salish Sea & Me

with Talaysay Tours

Meeting location: Porpoise Bay Provincial Park (6451 Sechelt Inlet Rd) | 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. (60 Minutes)

Salish Sea & Me brings forward a relationship with the waters, shorelines, and coastal ecosystems that shape life here. This tour offers a different but connected lens, focusing on the Salish Sea as a place of food, travel, culture, trade, memory, and ongoing responsibility.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here

tutulshenam Healing House - Community Presentation

Join Andrew Procknow, Director of Development for the First Nations Health Foundation, for an engaging community presentation on the tutulshenam Healing House project that will be built in our community.

Andrew will share an update on the progress of the tutulshenam Healing House project and the vision behind bringing culturally grounded, traditional healing and wellness services to the Sunshine Coast community. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the impact this project will have, the journey so far, and the many ways community members can get involved and help bring this project to life. https://tutulshenam.org/new-page

Community Room, Sechelt Public Library (5797 Cowrie St) | 10:30 - 11:00 a.m.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here | Phone: 604-885-3260

Exhibition Opening | Fibre Farm: Weaving Cross Solidarity

Sunshine Coast Arts Centre (5714 Medusa St) | 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.

FREE/DROP-IN

Music in the Park

with Brander "Raven" McDonald

Many people describe Brander as quietly and powerfully talented, a deep thinker, listener in whose intuitiveness is valued by all who have worked with him and especially to those who have been touched by his talents and abilities. He is proudly Spiritual and has always felt a powerful personal connection to Creator and credits this for sustaining him in trials of life. Brander's hope is to present encouragement through his Arts based on his Indigenous cultural identity.

Brander Raven McDonald is a Peguis Status Cree (Manitoba, Canada), Artist, Performer & Facilitator with Indigenous lineage. He is a wonderfully talented multi-media artist and Indigenous role model.

Hackett Park Stage (5765 Dolphin St) | 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

FREE/DROP-IN

Ch'kw'elhp Living History Walk

Sunshine Coast Museum & Archives
(716 Winn Rd), Ch'kw'elhp / Gibsons | 10:00 - 11:15 a.m.

Join K'atxa'mat Fran Nahanee on a walking tour that explores Sḵwx̱wú7mesh culture and the history of Ch'kw'elhp Gibsons. With her Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ancestry dating back 9 generations to the village site of Ch'kw'elhp, Fran offers a wealth of cultural knowledge in her warm-hearted and engaging tours. During the walk, Fran will speak about Sḵwx̱wú7mesh history of the region, cultural protocol, plant-knowledge, and her own family connection to Ch'kw'elhp.

FREE | Limited Space | Register: 604-886-8232

2025 BC Reconciliation Award Celebration

syíyaya Reconciliation Movement

The BC Reconciliation Award recognizes individuals and organizations who demonstrate exceptional leadership, integrity, respect, and commitment to furthering reconciliation in British Columbia. This recognition belongs to the many people who have walked alongside this work—Elders, knowledge keepers, community members, partners, and all those who continue to show up with care, courage, and commitment to reconciliation on the shíshálh swiya. We receive this award with gratitude and humility, and as a reminder of the responsibility to keep walking this path together.

shíshálh Nation Longhouse (5488 Monkey Tree Lane) | 11:00 a.m.

FREE/DROP-IN

Beading and Storytelling Workshop

Sechelt Library (5797 Cowrie St) | 1:00 - 4:00 p.m.

Join Brenda, local Cree/Métis Knowledge Keeper, and Stacy, Artist and bead artist of Indigenous ancestry, at this beading and storytelling workshop. Brenda will share stories of Iktomi the spider-trickster and the rich history of beading while participants work on a beaded spider. At the same time, Stacy will teach interested participants use a beading loom to make a beaded creation.

For children (5+) & youth and their Adults (Adults are encouraged to attend and participate with their child).

FREE | Register Here | Phone: 604-885-3260

Dancers of Damelahamid

'Spirit and Tradition' Performance + Q&A

Spirit and Tradition layers projected imagery, soundscape, and Coastal Indigenous masked dance, immersing the audience into the rich and diverse ecosystem of the mountains, rivers, and ocean of the Pacific Northwest Coast of Canada. Spirit and Tradition’s key themes are reciprocity and ecological sustainability, conveying important teachings on balance, interconnectedness, and community. 

Spirit and Tradition has toured to the (2010) World Expo, Shanghai, China, the International Festival de Danzas, Cusco, Peru (2011), the Festival internacional de danza folklorica, Ambato, Ecuador (2014), the (2015) Pan American Games in Toronto, Ontario, the 2019 ASIA Pacific Festival, Hawaii, the  2019 Scottish International Storytelling Festival, Edinburgh, UK, Expo 2020 Dubai, UAE (2021), and the 2022 Vancouver International Children’s Festival.

The Dancers of Damelahamid is an Indigenous dance company from the Northwest Coast of Canada with a rich history of masked dance that inspires a compelling performance.  The company is founded on over five decades of extensive work of song restoration and dance revitalization. The Dancers of Damelahamid has produced the annual Coastal Dance Festival since 2008. Their full-length works include Setting the Path (2004), Sharing the Spirit (2007) and Visitors Who Never Left (2009). Newly created works include Spirit Transforming (2012), In Abundance (2014), Flicker (2016), and Mînowin (2019).

Chatelech Secondary School (5904 Cowrie St) | 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

FREE | Register Here 

Cultural Walking Tour: Birds & Berries

with Talaysay Tours

Meeting location: Sargeant Bay Provincial Park | 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. (90 Minutes)

A special seasonal variation that weaves bird teachings with cultural plant teachings, berry plants, habitat, seasonal ecology, and the relationships between birds, plants, people, and place.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here

Dialogue Circle Towards Reconciliation

Circle Keepers: tituya Keith Julius, Kathie Tweedie, Jeannette Gibbons

Mission Point House (4603 Sunshine Coast Hwy) | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here 

Cultivating Appreciation for the Sacred Connections of Indigenous Story(works)

Community Room, Sechelt Library (5797 Cowrie St) | 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

This session invites readers, educators, and community members to reflect on ethical relationships with Indigenous story(works).

Led by local artist and educator, Manuela Salinas, this talk aims to instill a commitment to respect and appreciate the significance, sacredness, and spirituality of Indigenous story(works) in ways that honour the complexity and labour of intentions of Indigenous Scholars and Artists.

Learn more about Manuela's projects here: https://www.manuelasvisions.ca/projects

You'll find her art all around our community.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here | Phone: 604-885-3260

Cultural Walking Tour: Talking Trees

with Talaysay Tours

Meeting location: Porpoise Bay Provincial Park (6451 Sechelt Inlet Rd) | 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. (60 minutes)

A land-based forest experience focused on trees, plants, Indigenous perspectives, stewardship, and the living relationships held within the forest.

FREE | Limited Space | Register Here

Canada Day Parade & Hackett Park Event

8:00 a.m. - Lions Club Pancake Breakfast (Cowrie St.)

• Adults = $10 (two pancakes, two sausages, one fruit cup, and a beverage)
• Child = $7 (one pancake, one sausage, one fruit cup and a beverage)

9:30 a.m. - Sunshine Coast Orchestra (5699 Cowrie St.)

10:30 a.m. - Downtown Parade (Cowrie St.) | SHOW US YOUR SPIRIT!

We encourage you to bring the World Cup energetic vibes to this year’s parade! Wave your national or team flag, dress in bright colours and/or wear your favorite sport/team jersey and get ready to cheer on the floats!

12:00 - 4:00 p.m. | HACKETT PARK EVENT

Soccer Skills Zone, Live Music and Dance performances, Bouncy Castles, Food & Market Vendors, Collectible Cars, Face Painting & More!

Soccer Skills Zone | upper field

Come by the Sunshine Coast Youth Soccer Association's Soccer Skills Zone and let the kids test their moves, take on fun challenges, and kick up some excitement on the field!

Paint Your Flag: International Flags Activity! | upper field

Stop by the Sunshine Coast Tourism tent for a Canada Day activity with a global twist and in lively space designed to bring people together to create, connect, and celebrate.

This fun, family-friendly experience invites you to design your own flag on recycled fabric, snap photos against a vibrant Sunshine Coast-inspired backdrop with fun soccer-inspired elements, and explore cultures through art. Plus, keep an eye out for the Mobile Visitor Services Jeep onsite as part of the festivities. Plus, keep an eye out for the Mobile Visitor Services Jeep onsite as part of the festivities.

Kids Trial by Fire | upper field

Sechelt Fire Department is back with Kids Trial by Fire! Participants get the chance to tackle a fun, firefighter-inspired obstacle course designed just for them. Kids can test their speed, and strength while enjoying a safe, hands-on experience that lets them feel like a firefighter for the day!

Pitch & Palette  | lower park

Looking for the perfect spot to land this Canada Day? Step under the trees and into Pitch & Palette, a vibrant, multi-generational community space designed to let you play, create, or simply take a breather. The layout is simple: an Active Zone for fast-paced game energy, a Creative Zone for collective public art and illustration, and a shaded Rest Zone outfitted with hammocks and picnic blankets for families to recharge. Bring the whole family by to jump into the action, add your creative touch, or just find a quiet moment to unwind throughout the day. 

LOWER HACKETT PARK - amphitheater stage

12:00 p.m. | Welcome

12:30 p.m. | The Coco Project

1:30 p.m.  | "Tangled Fairytales" by Storytime Theatre

3:00 p.m. | Celso Machado and Josh Searles

ARTIST BIOS

THE COCO PROJECT

What happens when you put together seasoned musicians that has performed all over Asia, The Middle - East, UK and North America? A band that gets people dancing, grooving, singing and having F - U - N. Powerhouse vocalists and accomplished musicians makes their music genre limitless. The Coco Project, the first all - Filipino member band puts a brand new twist to Canada's Music world with it's Show Band Flare and Asian influence repertoire and style.

STORY THEATRE

Story Theatre is a branch of Sunshine Coast Driftwood Players.  They are a traveling troupe of actors and crew who enjoy entertaining children and adults. "Tangled Fairytales" is a 30-minute play this year to delight audiences at festivals along the coast again this summer. 

CELSO MACHADO

Virtuoso Brazilian guitarist, percussionist, multi-instrumentalist and composer, Celso Machado, is considered one of the most versatile and exciting musicians and composers of Brazilian music around today. He is renowned as an imaginative and expressive performer of Brazilian folkloric and popular styles, interpreted with a range of his own influences – he’s especially fascinated by other world music traditions. Celso incorporates these variations into his own sound; his own unique contribution to the ongoing evolution of Brazilian music.

JOSH SEARLES 

Josh J. Searles has spent a lifetime honing his craft across various genres and instruments. An acclaimed and award winning classical guitarist, composer, and DJ. His dynamic range has taken him across Canada, the US, the UK, and Spain, including collaborations with renowned Brazilian guitarist and percussionist Celso Machado.

UPPER HACKETT PARK - dance stage

The upper field of Hackett Park will come alive with a multicultural dance celebration. A new community dance tent and stage will feature high-energy performances, beginning with traditional shíshálh Nation dancing, drumming, and singing, and continuing with Bhangra, Filipino, Chinese fan, jazz, hip-hop, and Broadway styles. A special World Cup-inspired piece, choreographed by Coast Academy’s Alison Girard, will showcase local dancers, cheerleaders, and acrobats.

12:30 p.m. | Opening dance/drums - members of the shíshálh Nation
    
12:45 p.m. | Modern Dance Showcase (CAD dancers)
    
1:00 p.m. | Filipino dancers

1:30 p.m. | Kick, Pass, Dance! 
    
1:45 p.m. | Vancouver Bhangra
    
2:15 p.m. | Jazz Showcase (CAD dancers)
    
2:30 p.m. | Kick, Pass, Dance! with Sunshine Coast Gymnastic Team
    
2:45 p.m. | Contemporary Dance Showcase (CAD dancers)
    
3:00 p.m. | Sunshine Coast Gymnastic Team
    
3:15 p.m. | Broadway Dance Showcase (CAD dancers)
    
3:45 p.m. | Chinese fan dancer

2026 syiyaya Days Street Banners

Downtown Sechelt, along Cowrie Street

Featuring the artwork of Ali Casey and Janeli Avila Manetobenis

Towards Reconciliation: In This We Journey Together

A four-part video series created by syíyaya Reconciliation Movement to support shared truth and understanding.

online | youtube.com/@syiyaya_reconciliationmovement

shíshálh Nation tems swiya Museum

(5555 Sunshine Coast Hwy) 

shíshálh culture and heritage

Monday to Friday | 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sechelt Public Library Indigenous Collection

Sechelt Library actively promotes Indigenous voices. Look for the identifying spine label to find titles throughout the Library

(5797 Cowrie St)

Sunshine Coast Astronomers Club

Experience the wonders of the universe at our observatory! Weather Dependent.

Admission by Donation | 4480 Hilltop Rd