Getting there

National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations are being held at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds at 4839 Headquarters Rd in Courtenay.

To avoid traffic congestion we highly encourage you to use transit, ride your bike, or carpool.

Out of consideration for others, and for their safety, please do not bring dogs to the site.

Transit Shuttle Service

The Comox Valley Regional District has organized a special transit shuttle for June 21st so you can leave your car at home! The detailed schedule is below:

Bikes

Riding your bike is highly encouraged! Please note there is no staffed bike lock-up, but there is a fence next to our first aid and safety zone at the entrance to the site where bikes can be locked up. Bring your lock!

Vehicle Access 

Carpooling is highly recommended so we can provide parking for all attendees on site. On-site parking will be available until the lots are full. Please note there is NO parking allowed on Headquarters Road.

Accessibility

Please alert the parking attendants (look for the bright safety vests) if you require accessible parking. There are two options:

1. The lower field, providing close level-ground access to the event site.
2. The parking lot closest to Headquarters Road, which gives you access to the viewing platform and has a slope to access the main event site

For Immediate Release

Community and Media Advisory

June 12th 2024

National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations coming on June 21st!

On Friday June 21st K’ómoks First Nation is presenting National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations with cultural partners the Wachiay Friendship Society, Kumugwe Cultural Society, MIKI'SIW Métis Association, and Upper Island Women of Native Ancestry  This day celebrates and honours all Indigenous communities, recognizing their strength, and celebrating their resilience.

Hosted at the Comox Valley Exhibition Grounds from 2 pm till 9 pm, organizers look forward to welcoming the community for knowledge sharing, child and youth activities, delicious food and craft vendors, community tents, environmental walks at the Tsolum River, cultural presentations and live music from acclaimed indigenous artists Ed Peekeekoot,T'simka and Michael Red, Kumugwe Dancers, Curtis Clearsky and the Constellationz, and Juno Award winner William Prince!

Ed Peekeekoot is a gifted musician, storyteller, and artist from the Ahtahkakoop Cree First Nation in Saskatchewan who has performed for many years in schools and festivals across Canada and the US. Ed has a gentle sense of humour and appeals to people of all ages. Tsimka Martin is rooted in Nuu-chah-nulth terrritories and morphs millennia-old oral and drumming traditions into contemporary sonic vibrations!  Tsimka playfully reinterprets spiritual wisdom, natural elements, and cultural stories to remind listeners of the rhythms alive in us all - breath, heart, and joy. Michael Red is a Vancouver-based music producer, composer, curator, performer and DJ. Kumugwe Dancers help facilitate respect and understanding within the local community and communities abroad through sharing the songs and dances of the K’omoks and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples.

Curtis Clear Sky is the Anishinaabe and Niitsitapi lead vocalist of the ‘Indigifunk’ band Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz. Based out of Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil Waututh territory in the city of Vancouver, their music is a global fusion that includes Hip-Hop with Latin-Funk, Soul, Ska, Reggae & Blues, funky rhythms, thundering percussion, blasting horns, soulful harmonies, slicing DJ scratches with empowering lyrics that amplify positive messages.  William Prince is a Canadian folk and country singer-songwriter, storyteller and a member of the Peguis First Nation from Manitoba. William Prince sidesteps cliches and approaches big questions with humility and curiosity, and his songwriting is a masterclass in skilful simplicity. Since his JUNO Award win in 2017 for Contemporary Roots Album of the Year,  Prince’s momentum has continued to build and his exceptional body of work has received international acclaim. He has become one of the country’s most respected and celebrated songwriters.

Kids activities will include Flora & Fauna Bingo, nature based arts and crafts, Lacrosse and Bouncy Castles! Cultural activities and demos will be offered from all the cultural partners including a community Button Apron project, beading, Cedar crafts, screen printing and much more. Guided walks to the Tsolum River will be offered at 230, 430 and 630 by the Tsolum River Restoration Society.

Bring a blanket or a lowrider camping chair to enjoy the festivities. Covered seating and chairs will be available for elders, seniors, and those needing accessibility support. Parking is available on site until lots are full, but carpooling is highly encouraged. There will be a special shuttle running June 21st on a loop from NIC transit exchange to exhibition grounds to Downtown Courtenay transit exchange back to NIC, and repeat. First trip will depart NIC at 1:45pm and we will run continuously approximately every 20 minutes until the last trip departing exhibition grounds at 9:00 pm.

National Indigenous Peoples Day is dedicated to strengthening community connections, building cross-cultural awareness and moving forward together.  This year's celebration is supported by local government partners including the Comox Valley Regional District, City of Courtenay, Town of Comox and Village of Cumberland as well as countless community and non profit partners.

The event is FREE to the public. Please leave dogs at home out of consideration for others. Find out more about the upcoming National Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations including stage schedules, sponsors, performer links, vendors and more at komoks.ca/NIPD2024.

For more information contact Meaghan Cursons, Event Coordinator

meaghancursons@gmail.com

Ed Peekeekot links:

Website: https://www.peekeekoot.ca/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqZPFmUDj2_Jk6E8kLYonHg

Tsimka and Michael Red links:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ9bhiyABCs

Bandcamp: https://tsimka.bandcamp.com/album/nuuksiik

Live at Active / Passive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyJfhnSvoSc

Curtis Clear Sky and the Constellationz links: 

Website: https://www.constellationz.com/about

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CurtisClearSkyConstellationz

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnCeJe9IbCsksycRzIibxdA/videos

BandCamp: https://curtisclearskyandtheconstellationz.bandcamp.com/releases

William Prince links:

Website: https://www.williamprincemusic.com/about

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC48SnmArkqpyKT42J1_qglQ

Bandcamp: https://williamprince.bandcamp.com/music

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WilliamPrince/