National Indigenous Peoples Day

Emceed by JB The First Lady, an Indigenous hip hop artist, storyteller and cultural ambassador, performances showcase:

We’ll have bannock (while supplies last) and there will also be a variety of food options available for purchase on-site. 

• Another Coyote
• Blue Sky Art
• Deadly Unicorn
• Falling Leaf Leather Goods
• Frettchan Studios
• Giggy's Bead Boutique
• Haisla Dreams Creations
• Hawklace
• Little Metis Things
• Melissa Benson Designs
• Mom Moose
• Sheila Rae Design
• Shorty Legacy
• Thundercloud Designs
• ʔə́y̓ šxʷqʷéləwən Creations

About our National Indigenous Peoples Day footprint design

This beautiful footprint design reflects the path left by local Indigenous ancestors, inspiring us to follow in their gentle footsteps. The design incorporates salmon motifs, symbolizing the salmon’s cycle of always returning to the land, a teaching deeply rooted in Indigenous traditions. The chosen colors—teal, orange, and red—subtly pay homage to Indigenous movements such as MMIWG2S+ awareness and Every Child Matters, adding layers of meaning and connection to the piece.
 

About the Artist

Ocean Hyland, of Tsleil-Waututh, Squamish, and Sto:lo ancestry, is the talented artist behind this work. Drawing on the strong foundation of knowledge passed down from her ancestors, Ocean creates art that reflects the rich traditions of Coast Salish culture. Her practice encompasses painting, carving, engraving, and digital media, and she credits mentors such as Aaron Nelson-Moody of the Squamish Nation and Zachary George of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation for guiding her journey as an artist. Through her work, Ocean seeks to share her skills and gifts, honoring her heritage and celebrating the resilience and vibrancy of Indigenous culture.

Ocean’s invaluable contributions over the past three years have significantly shaped National Indigenous People’s Day and reinforced Burnaby’s ongoing commitment to fostering reconciliation. We are honored to continue this journey by introducing a new artist for 2026. 

We are thrilled to unveil the centerpiece of next year’s National Indigenous People’s Day communications: a stunning new artwork by Coast Salish artist Austin Harry. 

Title: Mesneẃásen - Join Them Together

This artwork depicts the four Host Nation symbols as human beings united on a shared canoe journey. Their paddles are raised in respect toward those watching from the shore, while the Thunderbird, a reimagining of Squamish’s logo, recites protocol.

The Wolf, a central figure of Tsleil-Waututh, reaches toward the water, where their reflection appears as a human—symbolizing the connection between the natural and supernatural worlds.

Flanking the Thunderbird are two salmon beings: one of the ocean and one of the river. The blue salmon represents xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, inspired by their logo. The red spawning salmon symbolizes the Kwikwetlem Nation, referencing the translation of their name: “Red fish up the river.”

In the background, the mountains known as the Sisters anchor the scene in the Burrard Inlet, whose waters connect the host nations to each other and link Burnaby to surrounding communities.

About the Artist

Austin Aan’yas Harry is a Coast Salish Artist based in Vancouver BC, Canada. He is of the Wolf Clan from the Squamish Nation and Thunderbird Clan from the Namgis Nation. Using digital mediums such as animation, graphic design, and 3D modeling, Austin captures the stories and lessons passed down to him as a young boy, reimagining them in a contemporary context. He considers himself a storyteller first, taking an adaptable, multi-faceted approach to artmaking. Storytelling is central to his traditional heritage and weaving that into today’s art landscape is his driving passion. As Indigenous visibility on ancestral lands remains a constant struggle, Austin uses digital media to bring that fight into the global public sphere.

This low/reduced sensory space is specially designed to be a safe, calming environment for neurodivergent folks, including people with ADHD, autism, sensory processing disorders, anxiety, depression, mental health issues and more. These spaces provide customized environments for people to decompress and have much needed breaks from overwhelming sensory input (noise, crowds, smells, lighting), strong emotions and socializing.

We are introducing Bettear, a free app designed to enhance theatre and event experiences for individuals with hearing loss. At the City of Burnaby, we’re committed to fostering an accessible, inclusive and meaningful experiences for all. Find out more about the Bettear Accessiblity App.