They enrich our lives with natural beauty and provide us with space to relax and enjoy all that they have to offer, so why not celebrate them?
They're Canada's parks, and we have some of the nicest in the world right here in our backyard. To help celebrate parks all across Canada as part of the National Parks Day, the Squamish Nation Youth Ambassador Program, in conjunction with the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society (CPAWS), is hosting local celebrations at Shannon Falls Park on Saturday (July 17).
It's a national celebration of all parks in Canada - whether national, provincial or local," said CPAWS executive director Chloe O'Laughlin. "Our focus is to really encourage events to happen in all parks across Canada and for people to support parks and really enjoy parks."
The Shannon Falls Parks Day will feature a salmon barbeque with bannock, singing, drumming, carving exhibits and a nature walk from noon to 4:30, all hosted by members of the unique new ambassador program. The program is designed to offer visitors to parks within the Sea to Sky corridor an up close and personal look into the lives and culture of First Nations people.
"The program hires and trains First Nations youth to act as ambassadors and representatives for the Squamish Nation community," said project liaison Drew Leathem. "Our focus is leadership and empowerment."
The program aims to emphasize the First Nations culture along the Sea to Sky Highway, where a team of nine Squamish Nation youth will be visiting parks and other sites throughout the summer presenting cultural demonstrations such as traditional dancing, carving and drumming. The group learns about leadership through team-building exercises, and they spend time making paddles and traditional regalia for use in their demonstrations.
"We want to get the youth involved with the public," Leathem said. "We want to get them to be engaging with the public - get them outdoors and involved with visitors."
Last year, members of the program were involved in cleaning and maintaining BC Forest Service sites, but program organizers wanted to utilize the talents of the youth more effectively, something that the youth have really caught on to.
"When they experience the interest and awe that non-First Nations public have for their culture, that's when the magic really kicks in," said Leathem, "when they realize the interest that others have in their culture and where they come from. It's really an empowering experience."
