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Students gather at Chief Williams Powwow Arbour ahead of Orange Shirt Day

Name: Students gather at Chief Williams Powwow Arbour ahead of Orange Shirt Day
Start: 2026-09-29
End: 2026-09-29
Location: Williams Lake

A student-focused cultural gathering takes place at the Chief Williams Pow Wow Arbour in Williams Lake on September 29th, a day before the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. The event features cultural teachings, stories, songs, and a sacred fire, alongside interactions with residential school survivors, Elders, and Indigenous knowledge keepers.

Date: Sep 29, 2026
Location: Williams Lake
Status: Recently ended

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Students gather at Chief Williams Powwow Arbour ahead of Orange Shirt Day

Event summary

Highlights

Interaction with residential school survivors, Elders, and Indigenous knowledge keepers
Cultural teachings, stories, and traditional songs
Sacred fire ceremony with tobacco ties
Cultural learning stations (traditional plants, history, storytelling, smudging)

This gathering, held in collaboration with the Orange Shirt Society and Cariboo Chilcotin School District 27, provides an opportunity for hundreds of students to engage directly with residential school survivors and Elders, including Orange Shirt Day founder Phyllis Webstad. The program, running from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., includes drumming and traditional songs performed by Williams Lake First Nation members. Attendees participate in cultural learning stations focused on traditional plants, history, storytelling, and smudging. Students and community members also gather around a sacred fire with Elders, placing tobacco ties and listening to personal experiences. Children wear "Every Child Matters" shirts and engage in activities such as making buttons and rattles, getting temporary tattoos, and face painting, fostering discussions around truth and reconciliation. Williams Lake holds significance as the community where the Orange Shirt Day movement began, with the event aiming to foster healing and honour survivors.

Practical details

Location described by the source: Chief Williams Pow Wow Arbour; 100milefreepress.net
Area for browsing nearby events: Williams Lake

Before attending

Check the sources below for current opening times, admission prices and registration requirements. A date range does not mean the event runs continuously or that admission is free.