Here's what's happening in B.C. to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day

National Indigenous Peoples Day will be celebrated across the country on Wednesday, includingmany events and activities being heldin B.C.

The special day acknowledges the diverse culture, heritageand contributions of the First Nations, Inuit, and Mtis peoples, including the more than 200First Nations that call B.C. home.

Vancouver

The City of Vancouver will be commemorating National Indigenous Peoples Day at Carnegie Community Centre. Theevent will begin with a welcome from Chief Bill Williams of the Squamish Nation and Carleen Thomas from Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The day will also feature crafts, smudging, cultural performances from Muttdog, Carnegie's lexwst'i:lem drum group, Big Drum with John Sam and two-spirit Anishinaabe dancer Larissa Healey.

Main Street, between East Hastings and East Pender, will be closed between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.

The public is invited to join the celebrationsstarting at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.

Student celebration

More than 700 students and staff from 30 schools will be gathering at the Vancouver School Board (VSB) education centre on West Broadwayto celebrate and honour the rich culture of Indigenous peoples.

There will be a nine-metre teepeepainted by Anishinaabe and Ojibwe artist Sharifah Marsden and a long list of cultural performers including Indigenous hip-hopgroup CurtisClear Sky and the Constellationz andTsatsu Stalkqayu's Coastal Wolf Pack,agroup of Coast Salish singers, drummers and dancers.

"This whole area belonged to the Coast Salish people at one point in time. So it's important to me thatpeople understand and appreciate the land they stand on," said Iona Paul, founder of the Coastal Wolf Pack.

Paul grew up on Tsartlip First Nation in the Saanich Penisula, near Victoria. For more than a decade, she's been performingalongside her husband, sons and 18 grandchildren, with the aim of educating more people about Coast Salish culture and heritage through traditional song and dance.

"When we firstcome out, I'll see someone and they don't know what to expectand then I'll look at them at the end of our performance and they're smiling and they're clapping ... that is my proudest moment," Paul told CBC News.

The district'sIndigenous education department will also be debuting Drums Across the World, a video compiled by staff exploring traditional song, story, dance or teachings honouring Indigenous histories, knowledge and cultures from around the world.

"For myself as an Indigenous woman, growing up in a time where we saw nothing of who we were, of positivity in our education, the time has now changed," saidChas Desjarlais, acting director of instruction forIndigenous Education at the Vancouver School Board.

Desjarlaisis a member of Cold Lake First Nations and a Treaty Six First Nation.

"I look at my youngest daughter who is in Grade 5 ... the fact that she's able to receive a cultural education, I think really brings me hope."

The event takes place from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. andis open to the public.

Memorial pole tour

A memorial pole honouring residential school victims, carved byKwakiutl artistStan Hunt, has been touring Vancouver Island this month, stopping in communities along the way. On Tuesday, it will be transported from Victoria to Vancouver, where it will be part of a ceremony at Canada Place on Wednesday.

Burnaby

The City of Burnaby will be showcasing the work of Indigenous artists, performers and storytellers with a community event at Edmonds Plaza and Park, from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m.

"This is an opportunity for our entire community to come together to celebrate and learn about Indigenous people and culture, and to recognize the importance of working toward reconciliation," said Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley in a news release.

The outdoor festival will include performances featuring dance, spoken word, storytelling and Indigenous artisans.

Surrey

An Indigenous-led celebration will take over the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre in Cloverdale, from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.

The event will open with a welcome by Semiahmoo, Kwantlen, and KatzieFirst Nations, and willinclude cultural sharing from local First Nations with teachings through art, music, storytelling and dance.

"For our non-Indigenous friends and neighbours, it allows themto learn more aboutthe trials and tribulations that we've gone through over the years and now being able to see and celebrate the beauty of culture and language," said Chief Harley Chappellof the Semiahmoo First Nation.

"It really does bring us full circle in the sense of the nation healing from some ofour atrocities that happened in the past."

White Rock

Chief Chappell will be joining the City of White Rock to sharethe oral history of "P'Quals", which means white rock, and how it came to reston the shores of Semiahmoo Bay. People are invited to gather at the iconic white rock, east of the Pier,from11 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Cranbrook

On Tuesday, from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m., a celebration of Indigenous culture hosted by Ktunaxawill take place inCranbrook's Rotary Park.

The festivities will continue into Wednesday, with a border walk at the Roosville Border at 10 a.m. The walk will be followed by lunch at the administration building, then dance demonstrations, traditional games, youth programs and cultural activities.

Prince George

From drumming and dancing to Elder stories and food vendors, Lheidli T'ennehFirst Nation will bring Prince George and the surrounding areas a three-day celebration of music and culture, starting Wednesday and running through Friday.

The event will be held at Lheidli T'enneh Memorial Park and on Fridayit will move indoors tothe Omineca Arts Centre for an open mic series in conjunction with an Indigenous group art exhibition.

Prince Rupert

Prince Rupert's 25th National Indigenous Day is being held at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre Arena on Wednesday,from 12 p.m. until 8 p.m. The event will include drummers, a red dress tribute, a Mtis dance workshop and more.

Kamloops

Tk'emlups te Secwpemcwill be hosting a celebrationat the Tkemlps te Secwpemc Powwow Arbourfrom 3 p.m. until 9 p.m.