The event features performers and an artists’ market.

Under tight timelines, organizers aim to keep the reincarnated festival “humble but memorable,” said Leslie McGarry of the Victoria Native Friendship Centre.

Gone is the big salmon dinner from festivals past at the Royal B.C. Museum, when the event attracted 50,000 people.

Some elements from the early days will stay the same, however.

The 7,600-square-foot scene on the wall of a Downtown Eastside hotel celebrates native culture and its history, but it’s also aimed at bringing together natives and non-natives.

“It touches a little bit on everybody, so I think when people look at it they’ll recognize something that comes from their [background],” said artist Jerry Whitehead, co-creative director of the project.

The mural, named Through the Eye of the Raven, was officially named and blessed Thursday morning at a gathering of first nations artists and community members, politicians and onlookers.

The idea behind the image, Quaite says, “is that you’re always surrounded, looked over and watched – taken care of in a way.”

Quaite is the team leader of a group of six youth spending their summer painting mural to be mounted along the Ogden Point breakwater.

Using a projector, they transfer the original work of art onto large panels.

This is phase two of a multi-year project whose aim is to eventually run along the entire 1.1-kilometre span – likely the largest in the world.

Last year’s mural displays a unique Coast Salish designs from the land and sea on each panel, each with its own story

“This year is a hallmark of creative excellence and the continuation of strong artistic expressions from First Nations artists,” said Dr. Lorna Williams, Chair of the at the First Peoples’ Council Board. “Each year the quality of the proposals we receive increases, which demonstrates the growing capacity of Aboriginal arts administration in B.C.”

The giant 743-square-metre mural is a labour of love for five Aboriginal artists who have been working for a month on the west wall of the Orwell Hotel on Hastings street.

The colourful mural is a mix of Aboriginal symbols, including animals and traditional activities, as well as local urban markers like the Sears Tower and the giant “W” of Woodwards.

“It’s a profound public statement that we are here to stay,” says Richard Tetrault, the artistic coordinator of the project. “It really represents urban Aboriginals from all over the country who live in the Downtown Eastside.”

Which is why the theft of two of their valuable pieces — collectively worth more than $60,000 — from two downtown Victoria art galleries in the last four months feels like the works of art were ripped right from their arms.

Victoria police are searching for the man they believe is responsible for both thefts, but so far have no suspects.

The first piece, John Marston’s Silent Waters, Setting Sun, was stolen March 3 from a Fort Street gallery. A man clad in a dark hoodie smashed a gallery window with a rock and walked out with the one-metre-wide by one-metre-long carving, which John Marston estimates weighs about 23 kilograms.

The culprit loaded the $25,000 piece into an awaiting getaway car, a red pickup truck, and sped off with two other people.

The man behind the design and handiwork of the village is Sechelt Nation artist Richard Krentz.

Krentz, who was born in Pender Harbour and grew up north of Sechelt, has been working for weeks on building and carving dozens of pieces for Klahowya Village.

Klahowya is the Chinook word for “welcome.” Krentz said he’s excited to welcome the world.

James participated in the raising of the story pole at the Christina Living Arts Centre last Saturday, June 19. Along with James representatives of the local Metis Association and Boundary All Nations Aboriginal Council came to witness the raising of the pole carver by totem carvers from the coast of B.C. While totems are not a tradition of the area, the decision to create a story pole was a way for the centre to acknowledge the First Nations peoples who used to live in the area.

The fledging Friendship Centre, headed by Bonnie Millward and a board of directors, hopes to provide services to aboriginal and the Metis communities through support, referrals and cultural revival.

Despite a few setbacks at Saturday’s event and low attendance, the strong show of support from the artists and community reflected in the number of displays in Memorial Park, builds a strong base for future events, noted Millward.

Community displays included Citizens on Patrol, Hope Fire Department, Literacy programming, and Christ Church Anglican.

“It is a day of celebration, a day that is a long time coming,” said Kathryn Teneese, Chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council. Both the Ktunaxa Nation and the city hope the sculpture will be a meaningful step forward in the process of reconciliation of the two communities.

The display cabinet in the U.S. departures room at Kelowna International Airport celebrates the Westbank First Nation and those who are members of the Okanagan Syilx people.

“This display of Westbank First Nation history, art and culture for passengers to enjoy at Kelowna International Airport is an excellent opportunity to showcase an important part of the Okanagan history,” said Airport Advisory Chair Mayor Sharon Shepherd.

The June 18-21 festival at Oppenheimer Park (440 Powell Street), partly sponsored by the B.C. division of CUPE, will be especially poignant for aboriginal people as it is being organized entirely from within the community.

“There’s been a lot of interest,” says CUPE 951 member Dale Whitford, co-organizer of the event and a member of CUPE BC’s aboriginal working group. “For native people who will be there, it’s important for us to know who we are and who we have been, and this event is a way to remind us of that.”

One of simplest ways to experience the first nations culture is to attend a powwow where there is plenty of traditional singing and dancing. Such events take place across Canada through November — check out www.drumhop.com to find one near your home or vacation destination.

The Aboriginal Tourism Association of British Columbia has developed a number of interesting tours ( www.aboriginalbc.com).The Haida Heritage Centre ( www.haidaheritagecentre.com)is now the gateway for exploring the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site (Haida Gwaii). Overnight canoe trips take you past scenes painted by Emily Carr out to watch whales in the ocean. Further inland at the Snaza’ist Discovery Centre you can tour the Mascot gold mine, perched on a cliff overlooking the Similkameen Valley, home to the Indian band of the same name   (www.mascotmine.com).

The 15787 Marine Dr. gallery was targeted just after 4:30 a.m. Police say a lone culprit kicked in the front glass door and smashed two display cases before making off with “numerous” items, all of which were engraved with the artists’ signature: EH (Errol Hillis) or J. Descoteaux.

It is believed a red motorcycle was involved in the theft.

The village is being made out of an ancient cedar tree that was removed Friday from Stanley Park for safety reasons. Artist Richard Krentz is one of the artists awarded a contract to work with the Aboriginal Tourism Association of BC to turn a number of designs into a unique aboriginal cultural experience in Stanley Park from July 1 through to the Labour Day long weekend in September.

When completed, Klahowya Village will include aboriginal food, daily dance performances, a themed train ride, canoe carving and a storytelling circle.