Every year since 2013, the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Dancers and Society, have hosted an annual Salmon Festival in May in Prince Rupert. Th event celebrates the arrival of wild Salmon with Dance Groups of the Northwest and communities. The event shares traditional songs, dance, and ceremony, exchanging cultures and friendship. There are also local vendors where you can check out the various offerings of local makers and crafters.
National Indigenous Peoples Day in Prince Rupert is held annually on June 21st to honor the cultures, traditions, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples. Depending on the weather, this event has occurred at the local waterfront or at our local recreation complex, and features performance, food, and vendors.
Hosted in Prince Rupert every February, the All Native Basketball Tournament is the largest basketball tournament in British Columbia and the largest Indigenous cultural event in Canada. The event brings Indigenous teams from as far south as Ahousat on Vancouver Island and to the north to southeast Alaska, Hydaburg, Kake, and Metlakatla, Alaska. The tournament is not only for sport, but a major cultural gatherings with spectacular performances at each year’s Opening Ceremonies, a concurrent vendor and food market in the gymnasium, bringing thousands of people to our community as both players and spectators.
Events for the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation are organized by various community groups every year, including individual nations, the All Nations Lax Kxeen Society, and the local Friendship House. These well-attended events are annual opportunities to come together to celebrate the pride and resilience of Indigenous culture and spirit, and importantly to acknowledge the role colonialism in Canada has played historically and today.
