Community gathers at South Island Powwow to mark Orange Shirt Day in Victoria
Published 2:00 pm Wednesday, September 30, 2026
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Thousands of people filter into a Victoria park on a Wednesday morning — many wearing orange, some not — to hear and learn about local Indigenous Peoples and mark the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
The Songhees Nation’s fifth annual South Island Powwow, on the homelands of the lək̓ʷəŋən people, honours and recognizes survivors of Indian Residential and Day Schools and their families, the Sixties Scoop and the children who never made it home from these institutions.
The first year it welcomed about 15,000 people through the gates, said Songhees Coun. Eugene Sam, who serves on the powwow committee.
Numbers grew to 22,000 last year and looking around the park shortly after the gates opened on Sept. 30, Sam sees reason to hope for even more in 2026.
“It gets across a really important message. It really shows we have people who are willing to learn what truth and reconciliation means. We face battles of racism all the time … to take a look around the field and take a look around the park today and see all the orange everywhere, it’s a beautiful thing,” said Sam, a member of the powwow committee.
Today, Songhees Nation hosts the fifth annual South Island Powwow on the homelands of the lək̓ʷəŋən people on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation pic.twitter.com/J7dqnaSoio
— Victoria News (@VictoriaNews) September 30, 2026
Vendors fill two sides of the vast field. Food vendors prepare for midday feasts.
The Lekwungen Dancers perform in the powwow circle. Then comes a grass dancer, who back in the day was literally tasked with tamping down the tall grass, filling holes and making a place for people to sit, explained master of ceremonies Gordon Cuthbert (Mukbeotah), pointing out there were no lawn mowers, or chairs from Wal Mart.
Crowds fill the stands, and the areas adjacent to the powwow circle, well ahead of the grand entry followed by a full day of category dances.
Sam hopes visitors will “embrace that same love that we carry” and take away hope for the future, memories and culture to share and talk about all year long.
“The thing I hope people take out of today is a story or a message to share with their friends who couldn’t be here today. To continue to share why truth and reconciliation is important and share why we continue to host this annual event and continue to honour those that never make it home, or those that live with trauma today,” Sam said. “We do our best to lift and honour everyone.”
The event is free and open to the public, welcoming families, schools and visitors of all ages and runs to 8 p.m.
About the Author: Christine van Reeuwyk
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