National Indigenous Peoples Day is June 21 and coincides with the summer solstice and the beginning of a season of berry picking and fishing, powwows, and gatherings for the diverse Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Traditionally, there are gatherings in communities all across BC – parades, dancing, music, festivals, and food.

All month, during National Indigenous History Month, take time with your family, friends, and community to connect to the land,  learn about Indigenous Peoples from Indigenous Peoples, and explore Indigenous experiences and offerings. See how and where to celebrate National Indigenous History Month and peoples Day this June across BC.

In Whistler, take the time to visit and celebrate at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre... Whether it's joining a workshop or participating in a Nourish Whistler event, there's so much more to learn, so much more to experience and so much more to share...

In Squamish, the library is holding two evenings of Storytelling by Squamish Elders and check for details of the Squamish CAN indigenous garden and school farm celebration. 

On June 6 we're back with the eleventh annual Whistler Multicultural Festival. Join us at the Whistler Public Library from 4 to 8pm to enjoy multicultural performances, activities, food and connections.

This year we'll be enjoying 

• performances from Burundi, China, Chile, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, Ukraine and South America...

• activities from Japan, Philippines, Korea, Mexico and children's colouring corner...

• food from Japan, Mexico,  Peru. the Philippines and Ukraine....

We hope you'll join us for four hours of fun, eating, drinking, singing, dancing, playing, and celebrating our diverse local communities. 

Find out more about the Festival at festival.wmsociety.ca. We always welcome more volunteers to help us and any support individuals and businesses can give us to make sure the festival remains free and open for everyone.

June 27 is Multiculturalism Day when we take the opportunity to celebrate the cultural diversity that enriches us collectively and reaffirm your commitment to equity, inclusion, and mutual respect.

This year, we're partnering with the Whistler Museum & Archives for a celebration of local culture focused around our diversity heritage. Over the last year, we've been gathering the (hi)stories of newcomers to Canada - both past and present - who've chosen the Sea to Sky as their new home.

From Benson Flores, the first Filipino immigrant who made his home on Bowen Island in 1851, to the building of the Squamish Gurdwara in 1983, to the first Filipino store opening in 2010 in Whistler, so many contributions to the development of our region are untold. We're creating a diversity heritage exhibit with the Museum to be opened later this year and looking for stories, photos and anecdotes about coming to Whistler to add to it.  

On June 27, join us from 12 to 3pm in Florence Petersen Park and the Museum to enjoy some multicultural fun and games. Bring something you brought from your own home country and write your own story to add to the display in the Museum...

Supporting cultural & racial diversity

Building equitable community

Empowering equity & social justice