The Hyack Festival Association thinks it’s only fitting to tell the story of New Westminster and First Nations in 2017.
Hyack adopts a different theme each year and has selected First Nations. First Cities: Telling Our Story, Together as its theme for 2017. Along with incorporating the theme into its various events, it will also be the basis for this year’s Hyack New Westminster float.
“During Canada’s 150th year, it’s very fitting the Royal City recall its special place in the history of this country in a way that integrates and celebrates the culture and stories of the First Peoples of the land,” said Hyack president David Brett. “The word Hyack, a Chinook term meaning ‘go fast’, is deeply woven into the fabric of New Westminster’s culture and history, and reveals the profound connection between Western Canada’s first city and the First Nations people.”
Chief Rhonda Larrabee of Qayqayt First Nation supports the theme and has agreed to be the honorary parade marshal for the 2017 Hyack International Parade on May 27. Hyack has also recruited First Nations artist, actor and director David H. Lyle, who grew up in New West, to take on the role of its artistic director for 2017.
“David is committed to this work,” Brett said. “We have someone who is highly capable of doing this. It could be a really moving and profound initiative for the City of New Westminster.”
While researching the Frist Nations history in New West on behalf of Hyack, Brett found a photograph of Chief Dan George with Mayor James Gifford on the steps of city hall for Canada’s centennial and Indian Days. Brett also found a newspaper photograph of two-year-old David Lyle at the opening ceremony of Indian Days in 1967, a photo that led him to the man who will serve as Hyack’s art director for the year.
“It attracted First Nations from all over British Columbia and up to 15,000 spectators,” Brett said of the Indian Days events held in the city in the late 1960s. “This tradition of celebrating First Nations culture in New Westminster goes back a long way.”
Hyack plans to partner with Qayqayt Elementary School and the Artists Rending Tales Collective Inc. on events, and to reach out to local First Nations groups, and arts, culture and historical groups in the city to get their input.
In addition to running the Hyack International Parade during the 10-day Hyack Festival, the association also hosts the city’s annual Canada Day fireworks display, runs a youth ambassador program that leads to the crowning of Miss New Westminster and takes the New Westminster Hyack float to parades in more than a dozen cities in the Pacific Northwest. It’s also working on new events, such as the Hyack Grand Prix bike race.
Brett said the association is teaming up with Qayqayt Elementary School for the Qayqayt HOWL Salmon Barbecue, which will be held during the Hyack Festival and will feature historical content, food, displays, entertainment, children’s activities, contemporary First Nations music and more.
“New Westminster is in some way a metaphor for all of Canada in the way we came together,” Brett said. “Our intention this year is to tell that story.”
