The first annual Snuneymuxw Days event takes place Friday, July 28 through Sunday, July 30 at SFN's No.1 reserve in south Nanaimo off Needham St. (file photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Snuneymuxw Days

Inaugural Snuneymuxw Days to draw thousands of people

Jul 28, 2023 | 11:07 AM

NANAIMO — Sports, cultural events, an expansive vendor market and family fun headline a busy weekend at Snuneymuxw First Nation’s south Nanaimo No. 1 reserve.

The First Nation is debuting Snuneymuxw Days, featuring war canoe races, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, vendor market, food trucks and much more.

Taking place from Friday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30, large numbers of people from the local area and other south coast First Nation’s are taking part in the sporting events alone, according to SFN councillor Kate Good.

“My guestimate number that I’ve been throwing out there and it’s a loose number is one to two thousand,” Good said of the number of people visiting for the canoe races and basketball tournament alone.

She noted at least 10 Lower Mainland based canoe teams are making the trip to Snuneymuxw territory for the weekend.

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Good said the idea is to build on war canoe races SFN has staged previously, while offering more things for a wider range of people to enjoy in a family-friendly, drug and alcohol free setting.

“We’re going to build on it, it’s going to get big. We’ve got lots of Snuneymuxw staff and folks involved to deliver this excellent weekend,” Good told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Numerous vendors will share their various crafts, clothing and other products at the SFN’s state of the art Recreation and Wellness Centre on Saturday and Sunday, Good said

A kids zone at the SFN administration building parking lot will feature bouncy castles and other activities for kids on Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The admin building parking lot will transform into an outdoor movie theatre on Saturday night.

Good made it clear Snuneymuxw Days is open to anybody and everybody to attend.

“That’s exactly it, we’re inviting our Snuneymuxw folks and anybody else. We want to put ourselves out there and let people know who we are.”

Due to space constraints and safety concerns with an abundance of people and young children around all weekend, Good strongly encouraged people not to drive onto their south Nanaimo No. 1 reserve to attend Snuneymuxw Days.

A full schedule of events can be found here.

Site map for Snuneymuxw Days taking place Friday, July 28 through Sunday July 30. (Snuneymuxw First Nation)

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes