Amalgamation Day

On July 23, 2023, we celebrated 100 years since sixteen Sḵwx̱wú7mesh villages amalgamated to become the modern Squamish Nation or Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw in our language. The path toward Amalgamation took many years to conclude, with some sources mentioning up to thirteen years, resulting in a unanimous agreement to unify by the Members and chiefs of the sixteen bands. The goal of Amalgamation was to overcome feelings of inequality or disagreement among Squamish People, ensure good government of the Nation, and consolidate all properties, interests, and accounts held in trust into a single entity for the benefit of all, including current and future Members.

To mark this milestone, the Nation organized a month of events in July 2023 called Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Days Festival, with the goal of bringing our people together to learn, celebrate, acknowledge, and uphold our ways of being. Some of the highlights included Voices of Elders, na ḵ’ánatsutstem ta temíxwcht (Our Land Returned) in Squamish Valley, ḵ’ánatsut-cht tkwa Sen̓áḵw Úxwumixw (Our Return to Sen̓áḵw Celebration), the Excellence Awards Gala, and nch’ú7mut (One Love) Pride parade.

On July 23, 2023, we held the 100th Amalgamation Day Festival, an all-ages free event at Ambleside Beach, West Vancouver that Nation Members and the public were invited to attend. There were family friendly activities, food trucks, an artisan market, and live performances by Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Blackie & The Rodeo Kings, Digging Roots, Bitterly Divine, and Aysanabee, just to name a few.