Stories, Songs, and Canoes at Trout Lake for National Indigenous Peoples Day

Trout Lake

Like many other folks from the Orchard Garden, I spent some wonderful hours at the National Indigenous Peoples Day at Trout Lake. The day began with coffee (tea for me) and conversation at the Commercial Street Café in Solare’s neighborhood. Jen, Steph, Kathleen and I were then taken for a beautiful walk through a community garden, an orchard, and finally to our destination at Trout Lake. Solare’s beautifully described account of the day can be seen here.

Our first stop at Trout Lake was the Mr. Bannock Indigenous Cuisine food truck. We treated ourselves to a delicious mixture of chicken, cranberry, and coleslaw atop some fried bannock. 

Delicious lunch from Mr. Bannock

Next, we found a wonderful sit spot to take in the Opening Prayer and Welcome from a member of the Squamish Nation. I was welcomed and moved by his words, which included telling all guests that we were witnesses today – here to celebrate the solstice and new beginnings. The Elder then said something which resonated with me, “We are not here to show you who to be. We are here to show you who we are.” This set the tone for the day, to look, listen, and engage with the beautiful cultural diversity being celebrated. The Elder, joined by the Squamish Ocean Canoe Family, invited anyone who wanted to dance to come up for the Eagle Dance. A few tentative children ventured up, then many. A girl in front of me had been politely raising her hand, hoping to be called upon to come dance. I was delighted when she finally plucked up the courage to go join the quickly growing crowd of children.

After the dancing, I enjoyed the beautiful songs of the M’Girl singers. 4 women make this group up, they sing in beautiful harmony, play drums, and offer knowledge about how the songs would be used (while berry-picking, for example).

In the hot afternoon sun, I enjoyed taking respite inside the tipi, which was covered with different-coloured handprints. Inside, I was treated to story-time from a Vancouver Public Library reader. The story-time was likely (definitely) intended for the 15+ children gathered in the tipi, but I enjoyed it all the same.

 

My day ended with an experience I will always remember – a ride in a Tsleil-Waututh Nation canoe. Takaya Tours, the only First Nations kayak and canoe tour business in the Lower Mainland, had three beautiful canoes at Trout Lake for the day. I joined a group of about 15 other curious and excited guests on the ‘big canoe’. Our canoe was flanked by two smaller canoes, and we all pushed off from the dock and ventured out across the lake. With little instruction, it was amazing to see how quickly a group of strangers can fall into rhythmic unison and paddle together to reach a destination. As we paddled, our guide Dennis explained how our paddles had the Tsleil-Waututh wolf on the front. This serves an important purpose – to let people from far away see who you are and what nation you come from. I didn't manage to get a good photo of the fronts of the paddles, but there are some good ones on their website gallery.

Replica of  a wooden ocean-going canoe

"Let it ride" - paddles up as the skipper steers us 

A 'sit spot' on the water to hear the story of the Mosquito Woman

The canoes were paddled into some Lilly pads on the far side of the lake, and there we sat, paddles up, and some stories were shared with us. We heard the story and song of the Mosquito Woman. I am sure there must have been festival and lake noise happening, but all I could hear were the sounds of the water lapping around our canoe and the voice of someone sharing an old and precious story with us. I am so grateful to have had this experience.