Hundreds of people gathered in Crab Park Sunday to celebrate native heritage in Vancouver -- part of cross-country festivities marking National Aboriginal Day.
Native drumming and singing welcomed a traditional ocean canoe to the beach as native organizers welcomed people of all races to share bannock bread and see how to build a teepee.
"My ancestors lived along these shores, so it feels good to be close to them," Squamish elder Sam George said, who kicked off the festival as part of the Red Blanket drummers.
George hoped that the people gathered would enjoy the activities - though he said that for the native people in attendance it was a powerful day to celebrate the positive strides his people have made this year.
George, 65, spent nine years at residential schools in B.C. in the 1950s. He was separated from his family and told to speak English, not his native tongue.
"I wouldn't treat anyone the way we were treated then," he said. "It was medieval."
It's only by acknowledging all this hurt that his people can move forward, he said. "The older I get, the more I see a lot of things don't have to be that way."
Some things have changed in the past year. Last June, the Prime Minister officially apologized for Canada's role in residential schools.
And in April, the Pope expressed his regret that Catholics played a role as well.
George said the apologies matter less than the feeling of optimism among native youth that things will improve.
"You look around, they're into it, they're happy. That's the same feeling I get. I love it," he said.
