June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada, and we would like to take a moment to recognize and appreciate that all INDIGEO VOLO events, parties and conferences are hosted on the unceded territories of the Lkwungen (Lekwungen) peoples. We are grateful for the opportunities to gather together in solidarity and safety, and we offer our complete and unreserved respect to their ancestors, Elders, and Knowledge Keepers.

From the Indigenous Perspectives Society:

Lkwungen means “Place to smoke herring”, Lkwung means “to smoke herring” and Lkwungen’athun refers to the language of the land. Lkwungen traditionally and still to-date unites the Esquimalt and Songhees peoples as one family.

If you would like to see some firsthand examples of the beauty and majesty of Coast Salish art, you need only keep an eye out for the seven ‘Signs of Lkwungen’ art installations in Victoria by Butch Dick, a local Coast Salish artist.

From the official Victoria website, and paraphrased by INDIGEO VOLO:

The site markers are placed at seven culturally-significant sites to the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations along the Inner Harbour and surrounding areas, which are as follows:

– the Lower Causeway in the Inner Harbour;
– Songhees Point;
– Laurel Point;
– the site of the south west bastion of the Hudson Bay Company’s fort (on the north side of the Malahat building, on Wharf Street);
– the entrance to the Royal BC Museum; near City Hall on Pandora Avenue, and;
– the Beacon Hill “Lookout”.

 

As of 2021, INDIGEO VOLO has been undertaking a concentrated effort to make regular charitable donations to organizations in local, provincial, and international aids.

This year we have raised money for the Moose Hide Campaign (leather and vegan moose hide pins available at our parties), and going forward, we will also be contributing a portion of our proceeds from our convention to a local First Nations group (to be determined- do you have any suggestions for us?).

Additionally, another new commitment in 2022 and beyond is to go as low waste as possible at all INDIGEO VOLO events (including switching to glassware and china versus plastic when possible, washable tablecloths, etc), and acquiring as many items second-hand as we can.

In an effort to save as much paper as possible, we have also transitioned to online forms and documents and use as much recycled paper.

We believe that every small act of good stewardship to the earth, every cause that gets bolstered, and every bit of recognition we can give to the Indigenous People of Canada is a step towards a better future for all of us.