This year, the Canoe Festival takes place from June 28-30 at Whey-ah-Wichen.
Every July, səlilwətaɬ Tsleil-Waututh Nation holds an annual canoe race based at our traditional village site, Whey-ah-Wichen (Cates Park) in North Vancouver, B.C. As “People of the Inlet,” canoe racing has been embedded in our way of life since time out of mind. Racing enjoyed a revival that began in 1910, when former Chief George Sla-holt carved a canoe he named “Earwigs” that soon earned a reputation as an exceptional racing vessel.
The TWN Canoe Festival welcomes crews from several Indigenous communities from across the southwest coast of B.C. and Washington state to compete in a variety of races that celebrate culture, showcase top canoe racers, inspire youth, and thrill hundreds of spectators. We invite canoe clubs and the public to join us at the festival.
