The top barrier for Indigenous youth seeking to connect with their culture is not knowing where to start or whom to turn to. That’s according to the latest Indigenous Youth Reconciliation Barometer, released by registered Canadian charity Indigenous Youth Roots, which found 80% of Indigenous youth surveyed reported feeling unsure of how to connect and reconnect with their roots.
Visionary Youth Peers for Equity and Revitalization (VYPER) is working to change that. Based in Abbotsford, BC, this youth-led group focuses on reviving and reclaiming Indigenous cultures and traditions by hosting cultural events and activities in the region. VYPER provides Indigenous youth with opportunities to learn and relearn activities tied to their culture such as drumming, dancing, and speaking their language.
“We want to help empower young Indigenous people to take ownership of who they are, figure out where they come from, and understand why it matters,” says Marcella Sunshine, VYPER Provincial Lead. “A lot of us feel like impostors in our own culture and our own story because we've been raised in a world that taught us to feel like that—and that leads us to the wrong path.”
VYPER’s initiatives include organizing powwows, cultural nights, and youth meetings. These events foster connections among Indigenous youth, their elders and the community, which organizers say plays a critical role in their mental, emotional and spiritual well-being.
Since its launch in January 2022, VYPER has hosted three Reclaiming Youth powwows. This year’s powwow, held in mid-July in Mission, BC, drew over 8,000 attendees, making it one of the largest in the province. The event featured VYPER’s first-ever powwow contest, with over 350 registered participants who dressed up in their vibrant regalia and competed to win various dance and drum prizes. A feast was enjoyed by everyone at the event as well.
Enbridge, through its Fueling Futures program, contributed $50,000 to the 2024 powwow, demonstrating the company’s commitment to supporting cultural celebrations and building stronger relationships with Indigenous communities.
“Huge thanks to Enbridge for supporting our first-ever contest powwow. With that support, we were able to put on a great event that truly brought people together.”
VYPER hopes next year’s powwow in Mission, scheduled for July 11-13, 2025, hopes to attract more attendees, including non-Indigenous people, to learn more about their culture and traditions.
“We would love for non-Indigenous people to join us in our events. Learning about our cultures and connecting with us builds understanding, breaks the divide and brings unity,” says Sunshine.
VYPER also hosts cultural nights in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, and the Lower Mainland. The organization’s Facebook page is updated for details of upcoming activities and other Indigenous groups’ events such as sweat ceremonies, cultural nights and youth meetings.
