Image: Contributed / Abbotsford-based Visionary Youth Peers for Equity and Revitalization (VYPER) is committed to reviving and reclaiming Indigenous culture and tradition through hosting cultural events and activities. To that end, it will host a powwow night at the Mámele’awt Community Indigenous Centre in Abbotsford from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. this Wednesday, Dec. 11. 

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Indigenous initiative

Fraser Valley Indigenous group leads initiatives to re-connect youth with their roots

Dec 9, 2024 | 11:00 AM

ABBOTSFORD — One of the biggest barriers for Indigenous youth who want to connect with their culture is not knowing where to start or which resource to turn to.

That’s according to the latest Indigenous Youth Reconciliation Barometer, which found that 80 per cent of Indigenous youth surveyed reported feeling unsure of how to connect and reconnect with their roots. It’s especially relevant in Abbotsford, Chilliwack and the surrounding area where there are thousands of Indigenous youth across the valley.

The Visionary Youth Peers for Equity and Revitalization (VYPER) is working to address that disconnect. Based in Abbotsford, this youth-led group is committed to reviving and reclaiming Indigenous culture and tradition through hosting cultural events and activities.

One of those key events happens this Wednesday, Dec. 11 when the VYPER team will host a powwow night at the Mámele’awt Community Indigenous Centre in Abbotsford from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. VYPER hopes the event can bring everyone, including non-Indigenous people, together and learn more about their culture and traditions. The event will be highlighted by intertribal dancing, live drumming and a shared dinner. Attendees will also enjoy games and special giveaways, such as ribbon skirts and shirts for Indigenous youth and students.

“We want to help empower young Indigenous people to take ownership of who they are, figure out where they come from, and understand why it matters,” said Marcella Sunshine, VYPER Provincial Lead. “A lot of us feel like impostors in our own culture and our own story because we’ve been raised in a world that taught us to feel like that – and that leads us to the wrong path.”

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Cultural nights are also regularly hosted in Chilliwack and the Lower Mainland. VYPER’s Facebook page is updated for details of their upcoming activities and other Indigenous groups’ events such as sweat ceremonies, cultural nights, and youth meetings.

Since its launch in January 2022, VYPER has hosted three Reclaiming Youth powwows. This year’s powwow, held last July 12-14 in Mission, drew over 8,000 attendees, making it one of the largest in the province. The event featured VYPER’s first-ever powwow contest with over 350 registered participants who dressed up in their vibrant regalia and competed to win various dance and drum prizes.

Image: VYPER Facebook

Enbridge, an energy transportation company which operates the natural gas pipeline system in British Columbia, has contributed $50,000 to the powwow. The company is working to deepen its commitment to supporting cultural celebrations and building stronger relationships with Indigenous communities.

“The Visionary Youth Peers for Equity and Revitalization proactively addresses the need to create more cultural spaces and ways for Indigenous youth to connect to their culture and roots. This group shows us what reconciliation in action looks like, and we’re proud to support them,” said Kathleen Shannon, community and Indigenous engagement manager for Enbridge.

VYPER provides Indigenous youth with opportunities to learn and relearn activities tied to their culture, such as drumming, dancing, and speaking their language. VYPER’s initiatives include organizing powwows, cultural nights, and youth meetings. These events foster connections among Indigenous youth, their elders, and the community, which organizers say play a critical role in their mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.

Next year’s Reclaiming Youth powwow in Mission is scheduled for July 11-13, 2025.