Braving an intense August heat wave, British Columbia elders made the journey to Vancouver’s Canada Place overlooking the Burrard Inlet for the 49th Annual First Nations Elders Gathering on Aug. 26 and 27.
Spirits soared as the boom of traditional drumming filled the air for the Grand Entry, a parade of nations led by cultural hosts the Squamish Nation Elders (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Siiyúxwa).
“I raise my hands to each and every one of you, my friends and relatives,” said Squamish First Nation spokesperson Swo Wo. “Thank you for bringing the gifts of your people – your elders – here to spend some time. We hope you enjoy our home very much, this beautiful place we have lived to take care of since time immemorial. I hope you will find our home as beautiful in your heart as it is when you look at it.”
Organized by the B.C. Elders Communication Center Society, the 2025 BC Elders Gathering brought together about 2,000 First Nations elders, helpers and service providers under the theme ‘Moving Forward Together’.
Toquaht Nation elder Naomi Mack travelled from Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island. She dodged a two ferry wait by leaving her car in Nanaimo and hopping on the Hullo passenger ferry.
Mack thinks the theme is about moving forward together in a positive and healthy way. The two-day event marked her second Elders Gathering.
“The trauma of residential school is still a burden on some people’s hearts and spirits, but the generations that come after that are floating around and learning that experience and filling the happiness for the elders, being the sunshine, you know, the brightest for them,” said Mack.
Lillian Jack, 65, left her home in remote Kyuquot on the northwestern coast of Vancouver Island at 4:15 a.m., picked her younger brother up in Campbell River, and after a five hour wait at the ferry terminal, they made it to Vancouver by nightfall.
“There have been a lot more kakawin (orca whales) this year that have been showing up at home. Even right in the bay, going by, where I live, it’s been interesting. I don’t know why. It’s the young ones who seem to get curious and come in. Maybe fish,” said Jack.
She didn’t mind her long trek to the mainland for the annual gathering.
“It’s easier for all the other nations to come here,” said Jack, who is responsible for the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations’ housing and infrastructure portfolio.
She says the key to improving the lives of people in rural First Nations communities is “keeping communications open to be able to work with each other.”
Ehattesaht leader Annie John drove a van of 10 elders from Zeballos on the northwest coast of Vancouver Island.
“It was a long day sitting in the sun. We barely made the ferry. We were the last two vehicles on,” said John.
“This is my third year doing this for the elders. I just really like the experience of coming and being with our elders,” she continued.
Her sister Dorothy John came as a helper or ‘elder-in-training’.
“We are reconnecting as a nation,” said John. “We are gaining a lot of culture back. We are gaining our families back because we are all reconnecting. Just looking after the elders is a blessing for me. I love the growth of our lives that are changing.”
Ehattesaht elder Sheila John says moving forward together is important because “we are one”.
“Everyone needs to start believing that. We are all one family and we need to be one again,” said Sheila.
Wally Samuel, elders council representative with the Port Alberni Friendship Centre, has been coming to the annual Elders Gathering with his wife Donna for the past 20 years.
“It’s always good to see old friends from up north and all over,” he said. “Hopefully people work together and teach each other.”
Each year, a King and Queen is selected for their long-standing service to their community. The 2025 King was Squamish elder Kiyo-iis (Bob Baker) and the Queen was Squamish elder Slawiya (Andrea Jacobs).
At the age of 92, Kiyo-iis is currently the oldest male Squamish elder in the Squamish Valley.
“I hope I have a few years left so I can come back and see the rest of the Kings and Queens,” said Kiyo-iis during his welcome speech.
“This is a great gathering, bigger than the last one. Enjoy yourselves and mix with one another. Get to know one another. Make new friends. Do a lot of shopping,” said Slawiya.
Throughout the two-day event, elders could peruse 64 information and craft vendors, plus enjoy free haircuts, manicures, foot care and therapeutic wellness. Members of the Indian Residential School Survivors Society were offering healing brushings and there was also a health centre this year, performing hearing and vision exams. Elders could leave with glasses ordered or hearing aids if needed.
The nap room was also a hit, with most of the 45 beds filling up around 1:30 p.m. Participants could rest for the afternoon dance on Aug. 26 and the Red Dress Orange Shirt Fashion Show this year with Phyllis Webstad of the Orange Shirt Society as a speaker on Aug. 27.
