Aboriginal Culture in the Spotlight at Royal BC Museum, Victoria

With a fantastic line-up of traditional performers and plenty of authentic cuisine and beautiful crafts, the Aboriginal Cultural Festival, in partnership with the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations, is coming to the grounds of Victoria’s Royal BC Museum this June.
 
This fascinating cultural showcase will take place from Friday, June 16 to Sunday, June 18 and will see more than 25 impressive performers gracing the main stage to celebrate the diverse traditional and modern cultures of Nations from across British Columbia.
 
This fantastic event will see performances by three-time world champion hoop dancer Alex Wells, who hails from the Lil'wat Nation, first-class shopping opportunities in the eclectic indigenous arts marketplace, and plenty of authentic delicious dishes to try out, like West Coast clam chowder, traditional fry-bread and mouth-watering barbecued sockeye salmon.
 
Here a just some of the highlights…
 
Friday June 16
On Friday check out performances by the host nations at noon. See the Songhees Nation’s Lekwungen Traditional Dancers and the Esquimalt Nation’s Esquimalt Singers and Dancers, and at 3pm see the Maori He Waka Kotuia Dancers from New Zealand perform.
 
Saturday June 17
See the Smudge Ceremony at Mungo Martin House at 11am, and check out the artist demonstrations and Songhees seafood and steam food truck in the arts marketplace all day long.
 
Sunday June 18
See Git Havetsk mask dancing of the Haida, Haisla, Tahltan, Tlingit, Lil`wat and Musqueam Nations at 2pm and catch Hoop Dancer Alex Wells at 4pm.
 
If you’re looking for a hotel beside the Royal BC Museum, the Best Western PLUS Carlton Plaza is a great option. Take a walk down Government Street from this AAA Three Diamond heritage hotel and in seven minutes you’ll find yourself amid the Inner Harbour and the Legislature Buildings.