Understand nature and human history from a First Peoples perspective at Exploring Indigenous Perspectives, an all-ages guided walk at Francis/King Regional Park on Saturday.
Join Leslie McGarry, a CRD Regional Parks cultural programmer, to learn about a human history of the region, a legacy spanning thousands of years. Having lived on the land for countless generations, Indigenous peoples have developed a sense of coexistence and interconnection with the forests, rivers, lakes and the sea.
“We don’t consider ourselves as the top of the food chain,” said McGarry. “We are just one strand in the web of life.”
The Indigenous approach to nature based on a belief that animals and plants can teach us many valuable lessons, as long as we open ourselves to a relationship based on harmony, respect and appreciation.
In this cultural program, participants see the natural environment through a First Peoples lens — from the practice of time-honoured traditions to the effects of colonization.
The program starts with welcoming ceremony for participants and an acknowledgement it takes place on Indigenous territory. The walk through forest trails explores the clashing world views between First Peoples and European cultures.
Participants will discover how First Nations elders taught life lessons through the telling of Indigenous-centered stories.
“There are cultural protocols for when we harvest for food or for when we need to cut down a tree,” said McGarry.
In First Nations culture different animals share their knowledge with humans on how to care for and respect each other.
Different animals tell different stories: How Raven brought rain to a parched earth, why beavers have flat tails and how bears helped determine the seasons.
People will learn how traditional sustainable practices of First Peoples can contribute to reducing the impact we have on the environment in the present.
The guided walk takes place along a 800-metre wheelchair-accessible trail that consists of boardwalk and compact surface. There is a slight incline.
The program is free to join. The program runs 1:30 to 3 p.m. Saturday at at Francis/King Park. Meet at the park’s Nature Centre, off Munn Road.
For more information, go to
- - -
Enter your Dachshund in a wiener race, dress them up or bring your lawn chairs or blankets for a fun day at the Dachshund Picnic and Fun Day, at Community Living Victoria, Sunday.
Hosted by the Victoria Dachshund Meet-up Group, the event is an opportunity for owners and fans of the breed to meet, socialize and enjoy the day.
Activities include a Wiener Walk, Musical Hula Hoops, Wiener Dunk, Wiener Races, Costume Contest and a Weave Pole Contest.
There will be hotdogs, potato chips and soft drinks for sale on site.
The entry fee is $5 per dachshund. Registration begins at 10:30 and the event runs until 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17 at Community Living Victoria, 3861 Cedar Hill Cross Rd.
A reminder that the picnic is not an off-leash event — all dogs must be on a lead at all times.
For more information, contact [email protected].
- - -
Celebrate another season of music, food, drink and community at the Convergence Festival, downtown Ganges, Salt Spring Island on Saturday.
Hosted by the Mateada Social Club, the event features a full day and evening of live performances featuring Qairo, Sade Awele, Mo Moshiri with Obi G, Sophia Danai, The HilltopPranksters, Higher Knowledge and a performance by musicians from the Gulf Islands Secondary School music program.
There will be an open air event tent for shade with an area set aside for children.
The event will also be the official launch of the public portion of the Stqeeye’ Land Campaign, an initiative to reclaim a 10 acre property in Xwaaqw’um that is will serve as a home base toexpand their wetlands restoration work.
There will be a Chilean-inspired special Chori Pan (South End sausage on a Francis bread roll) on the grill all day, complementary yerba mate and alcohol available in a licensed area.
The festival is free to attend. It runs 12:30 to 10 p.m. Sept. 16 in the parking lot of Mateada, 150 Fulford-Ganges Rd. Salt Spring Island.
For more information, go to
