Gilakas'la 2024

A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT CONTRIBUTED LOVE, HEART, KNOWLEDGE, ENTERTAINMENT & SPONSORSHIP TO THE K'ÓMOKS FESTIVAL 2023

All Elders and K’ómoks community & K’ómoks Elected Chief & Councillors and a special thank you to Hereditary Chief of the Pentlatch ‘NAMNAMAM and Hereditary Chief of the K’omoks Yax’nukwalas, Kerry Norman Frank—you are all amazing!

We are grateful to so many wonderful businesses, organization and community members who came together in time, energy and resources to create this community event.

The K’ómoks First Nation community and larger Courtenay and Comox Communities provided great feedback on the K’ómoks Festival held earlier in the day. 

It was uplifting to come together as a community to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day beside the Norman Frank Memorial Pole, 3535 Bayside Road, Courtenay, British Columbia on the Lands of the K’ómoks First Nation. 

The festival was a cultural feast with fluent speakers and dancers who have dedicated their lives to the traditions of our people. The event had more than 300 guests including vendors, sponsorship organizations and volunteers. 

The morning program, Welcome Ceremony and Keynote Address by Joanna Recalma were very moving. She gave an eloquent and heartfelt address speaking to the death of K’ómoks First Nation member Keisha Mayers who passed away in the Comox Valley Hospital. 

Joanna Recalma has offered to provide a copy of her Keynote to us to share on the K’ómoks Festival website once Keisha Mayer’s father’s permission is obtained.

Panikpak Letitia Pokiak shared a talk on Climate Change as part of our Knowledge Keeper Speaker Program in the morning Welcome Ceremony. Panikpak is from Tuktuuyaqtuuq located in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region, of the Western Arctic, North West Territories. As an Inuvialuk, she was raised traditionally on Inuvialuit Nunangat, her Arctic homeland, which frames her lens and worldview. Her engaging talk was well attended.

Opening Ceremony for Queneesh / Qʷənɛs House, designed and built by Hereditary Chief Yax’nukwalas, K'ómoks & Pentlatch Hereditary Chief Namnam’am, Kerry Norman Frank, was awe-inspiring. Charlie Joseph, “Boon,” was thanked for his significant contribution in transferring Kerry Norman Frank’s design and vision to the front of Queneesh House.

Hereditary Chief Dick Dick Dawson, Hereditary Chief Robert Williams and Hereditary Chief Dicky Joseph conducted the ceremonies on behalf of Hereditary Chief Kerry Norman Frank. The Historic Opening ceremony included dances by K'ómoks First Nation members and the Yisya̱’winux̱w Dancers.

The Featured Exhibition, Legends Behind the Masks, welcomed guests to witness artworks by some of the most celebrated First Nation Artists and Carvers on the West Coast including artwork by Henry Speck Sr., Dicky Joseph, newly appointed Director-At-Large, Tommy Hunt Jr., Waławidi, Wayne Alfred, Richard Hunt, the Late Beau Dick, Late Marcus Alfred, Late Douglas Cranmer, Geary Cranmer, Bruce Alfred—and, Rachelle Marie Antoine, newly appointed Director-At-Large and K'ómoks and Saik'uz First Nation Artist.

The Bentwood Box Workshop with Bruce Alfred, Cedar Hat Weaving Workshop with Leonard Williams, Weaving Workshop: Emily Recalma, 'Namgis & Pentlatch Weaving, and Tours of Kus-Kus-Sum Estuary with Dan Bowen and Caila Holbrook from Project Watershed were especially well attended.  

The K’ómoks Queneesh Under the Sun Community Art Mural designed by respected Kwakwaka'wakw ‘Namgis artist and carver, Bruce Alfred, from “Yalis, Alert Bay, Cormorant Island, British Columbia, was very popular with our young people and children from the Courtenay and Comox communities.

Many guests chose to explore the foreshore and participate in our Archaeologist for the Day where they joined members of the community on walking tours of the K’ómoks Shell Middens at Comox Harbour. Elders shared their history, and how stewardship and innovation have been applied in the past and live on today.​

It was an amazing day because of you! We look forward to coming together again in 2025 for many wonderful events with all of you! A very special thank you to Kat Frank and Heidi Henderson for having the inspiration, passion and drive to bring us all together.

On behalf of the Queneesh Indigenous Community Society and Comox Rocks, we are honoured, so honoured to know and count all of you as part of our vibrant community!

To each and every one of you, Gilakas'la!