Sweetgrass Arts and Music Society of Salt Spring Island, BC June 18 — 21, 2026 Indigenous Peoples Weekend Salt Spring Island and the Southern Gulf Islands
June 2025 · Salt Spring Island

A weekend to remember

Twenty-one events, three days, many Nations. Indigenous Peoples Weekend 2025 brought together Elders, artists, dancers, musicians, and Knowledge Keepers from across the Salish Sea and beyond. Here are some of the moments we shared together.

Volunteers raise the tipi canvas with the lodgepoles together at the opening of IPW 2025 Two community members guide the rope work as the tipi is raised A close view of hands tying lodgepoles together with rope at the tipi raising A community member in an Every Child Matters shirt witnesses the ceremony with the tipi in the background A line of young dancers in grey ceremonial dresses stand before the tipi Coast Salish dancers including young girls and a feathered regalia performer move across the grass A line of dancers approaches drummers led by an Elder in regalia Many dancers of all ages spread across the meadow led by Elders in regalia Two Knowledge Keepers in cedar hats drumming in front of the tipi Two community members in cedar hats holding hand drums in front of the tipi Mother and young dancers in grey regalia clapping in unison A woman dances joyfully with hands raised, surrounded by other young dancers A line of mothers and daughters in grey regalia dancing together near the tipi Two regalia-clad dancers facing each other in the dance circle, audience seated behind Two dancers in regalia at the tipi, surrounded by community members Performers in regalia dance with willow trees overhead at the meadow The wider gathering with regalia dancers and audience members in a circle Indigenous dancers in the circle with the audience watching closely A wide view of the audience watching dancers in front of the tipi Community members of all ages, including children and a baby, dance together in the meadow Two musicians prepare a guitar and cajón under the trees before performing Witnesses watching the dancers perform around the tipi Two community members watch the ceremony, one wearing a woven cedar hat A community member with a feather and woven cedar hat watches from a green camp chair A circle of Elders and community members sitting and visiting under the trees A woman in a Métis sash and red hat speaks with another community member under the willows Two community members in orange Every Child Matters apparel meet warmly at the welcome table Children climbing in an old apple tree at the gathering, with elders watching from a bench A Knowledge Keeper standing and speaking with hand on heart, an Elder seated beside A man stands holding a carved wooden teaching staff while two Elders sit on either side Bruce Dumont stands and holds out a beaded wampum-style belt to the gathering Three community volunteers preparing the welcome tables under the trees A volunteer carries a large bowl of salad with fresh greens and pink petals to the feast Three women smiling and standing together in front of the tipi

Photography by Christopher Roy, Wildlight Creative, Safiya Labelle, Chris Marshall, Pam Tarr, and community contributors. Used with gratitude. All rights remain with the photographers.

Join us in 2026

June 18 — 21, 2026

Three years of growing together. Come walk into the next chapter with us.

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Territorial Acknowledgement

IPW 2026 takes place on Salt Spring Island, within the ancestral and unceded homelands of Hul’q’umi’num and SENĆOŦEN-speaking Coast Salish peoples, including Nations with deep cultural, historical, and ongoing relationships to these lands and waters.