Hundreds of people around the West Shore celebrated National Indigenous Peoples Day, as a step towards reconciliation Thursday.

One of the largest celebrations took place at Royal Roads University. Premier John Horgan and Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Scott Fraser helped kick off the festivities by participating in canoe landing protocol practice.

As part of the protocol, Horgan and Fraser paddled up to the shores and asked Esquimalt Nation Chief Edward Thomas for permission to come ashore B次元官网网址� which Thomas granted.

Chief Edward Thomas of the Esquimalt Nation.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an emotional day for me,B次元官网网址� said Thomas of National Indigenous Peoples Day. B次元官网网址淭o be able to celebrate a day, a people that have had so much happen to them due to generations that we canB次元官网网址檛 keep that hurt and anger. ItB次元官网网址檚 time to start living, learning and sharing who we are as a people B次元官网网址� Hopefully we can build more of these days where we can share who we are.B次元官网网址�

Events got underway at 10:30 a.m. and included a canoe challenge, traditional drumming, singing and dancing, childrenB次元官网网址檚 field games, traditional foods, crafts, workshops, artists vendors and a traditional plant walk along Colwood Creek with Cowichan Nation Elder Kenneth Elliot.

Festivities continued at West Shore Parks and Recreation with performances by Esquimalt Singers, Stzuminus Mustimuhw, Indian Bay Singers and hoop dancer Alex Wells. The festival also included childrenB次元官网网址檚 activities, bouncy castles, Indigenous artists, demonstrations and information booths.

Hundreds of people at Royal Roads University for National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations on until 3:30 pm today.

B次元官网网址� Goldstream Gazette (@GoldstreamB次元官网网址)

Festivities wrap up around 3 p.m. at West Shore Parks and Recreation and around 3:30 p.m. at Royal Roads University Thursday.

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kendra.wong@goldstreamgazette.com