Happy faces, hugs and handshakes the mainstay of Elders Gathering

The 39th annual BC Elders Gathering, hosted by the Tsawout First Nation and the WSÁNEC Elders of North Saanich, attracted about 4,000 participants to the Panorama Centre on the Saanich Peninsula July 7 to July 9.

Grand Entry of the Elders who attended was held in the centre’s massive indoor tennis courts building, and it was still too small to hold everyone who wanted to attend opening day. Televisions were set up in the dining hall (a converted arena) when the main hall reached capacity so people could watch the opening ceremonies from there.

Grand Entry was led by the school children of the Sencoten Immersion program, the gathering’s King and Queen, Doug and Kathy LaFortune, and dignitaries from the four nations of the Saanich territories, plus provincial, federal and First Nations officials.

In attendance for the opening was Elizabeth May, leader of the Green Party of Canada and MP for Saanich-Gulf Islands, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, former Assembly of First Nations national chief Phil Fontaine, Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister John Rustad and a delegation from Malaysia, dressed in their traditional regalia.

Elders from each BC Nation that sent representation to the gathering lined up outside the main hall behind banners with their nations’ names on them. Called into the hall alphabetically, each nation sang and drummed, walking past the main stage where the host nation delegates held their hands high to greet them. Elders joyously greeted friends and shook strangers’ hands along the way.

Once settled, the children of the immersion program sang songs, the first composed by the women singers that said ‘glad to see each and every one of you.’ They also sang a prayer song that talked about the mountains, ocean and salmon and how sacred they are.

Co-emcee Ian Sam said “I am amazed at how many Elders we have here today. Welcome, welcome to our territory… Hope you feel at home.”

Each of the chiefs of the four Saanich nations spoke to the gathering. Chief Harvey Underwood said he was feeling overwhelmed. “I value each and every one of you and what you carry.” He said he welcomed the insight, love, wisdom and good humor of the Elders. He hoped the three days of the gathering would be “refreshing and life-giving.”

King Doug LaFortune, a carver of considerable note, said he was “amazed” by the event. Despite being named king, he had never before been to an Elders Gathering. Not because he didn’t want to, but because summer was a very busy time for all carvers, he said. He hadn’t really thought of himself as an Elder. “It just snuck up on me,” he joked. He choked up talking about the children leading the Elders into the gathering, and how happy he was to have his own children and grandchildren at his side.

Queen Kathy said she too was “amazed” at the turnout. “It warms my heart.” She said Aboriginal Elders had come through a lot of adversity—residential schools and being put on reserves in the first place—but they remained “strong and beautiful people… I take pride in that.”

Chief Vern Jacks thanked everyone for coming and told the Elders “I love you.” He said we valued both the youth and the Elders and was glad to see some non-Native people in the room. “You have a lot to learn about us,” he said.

Asked Chief Don Tom “It’s a great day to be alive, isn’t it?” Chief Rebecca Harris thanked all the wonderful volunteers, about 500 she estimated.

The gathering included time for visiting and making new friends, a wide variety of workshops and presentations, health assessment and entertainment, including traditional songs and dances, contemporary singers like George Leach, and an Elvis impersonator.

Next year’s event will be held in Williams Lake.