The grounds in front of the Shatford Centre were hopping Friday afternoon with the sounds and sights of the 2019 Indigenous Peoples Day Pow Wow.
There was dancing, there was drumming, there was singing, and there was most definitely eating as bands from throughout the southern Okanagan Valley, and a whole bunch of locals too, converged on Shatford for the celebration.
Rich Terbasket of the Lower Similkameen Indian Band was all over the place. When he wasn't singing or playing in his drum group, he was taking part in competitive hand drumming.
"This is a celebration of a way of life. At the beginning of the season, people would come together throughout the plains tribes and all over Indian country, and we'd celebrate by singing and dancing."
Terbasket said it was vital the tradition continues. "We're here today to support these young ones and to keep our culture and our way of life alive."
And he said much of the valley was represented. "I can imagine that probably from Osoyoos to Vernon is here today, and a lot of the Penticton Indian Band is here too. They have these all up and down the Okanagan, not just today, but throughout the spring."
