Organizers say attendance was up at National Indigenous Peoples Day in Phillip Jackman Park in Aldergrove on Saturday, June 17, the second year the event has been held there.

91原创 City resident Katie Pearson, CEO of the , estimated more than 500 people dropped by throughout the day-long festival that featured traditional music and dancing, along with a vendor鈥檚 market featuring traditional Indigenous artwork and crafts.

鈥�We took a little bit of a different turn during COVID,鈥� Pearson told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淲e featured online events like tutorials where people could pick up craft kits and things like that, but now we鈥檙e back in person.鈥�

Last year, the shift from 91原创 City to Aldergrove marked a resumption of the in-person annual celebration.

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It was the 12th year the Lower Fraser Valley Aboriginal Society has been holding the event in celebration of Indigenous, Inuit and Metis people.

The society was established in September of 2000 by Aboriginal support workers in the 91原创 School District.

鈥淥ur services are for urban indigenous people and those that self-identify as indigenous or Metis,鈥� Pearson explained.

Through partners, grants and targeted funds, the volunteer-run organization hosts a range of events and programs.

This year, National Aboriginal Day was marked on the weekend before June 21, the official date of National Indigenous Peoples Day, when Canadians recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples.

According to an online , June 21 was chosen because of the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.

More images of the day can be found online at the .

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