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War canoe races highlight weekend Canada 150 festivities in Victoria

First Nations traditions spotlighted on a sunny Sunday
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Members of the Geronimo team from the Tsartlip Nation paddle to the start/finish line in the Inner Harbour before a traditional war canoe race Sunday. Don Descoteau/Victoria B´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·

Tourists, locals and supporters got a glimpse of a traditional First Nations competition Sunday, as war canoe teams from various local nations did battle on the water in the Inner Harbour and Gorge Waterway.

As part of VictoriaB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s Canada 150 celebrations, teams from the Songhees and Esquimalt nations, Tsartlip, Tsawout and Cowichan Tribes paddled in the Buckskins 11, womenB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s and menB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s races, the last of which saw the boats head four kilometres up the waterway and back again. The boats finished to a throng of cheers from onlookers gathered high atop the Ship Point pier.

Also on Sunday, First Nations singers, drummers and dancers performed on stage nearby, while the eveningB´ÎÔª¹ÙÍøÍøÖ·™s featured entertainment was a series of head-to-head electronic music showdowns.

For a full schedule of Canada 150 events and activities leading up to and including Canada Day July 1, visit .





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