The Co-organizers of the Four Fires Festival are local canoe carvers Mike Billy Sr of Squamish Nation (North Vancouver Canoe Club) and Dickie Louis from Musqueam Nation (Celtic Sunset Canoe Club).
Dickie Louis
“I am proud to have helped bring back canoe building and racing to the Musqueam Nation. Over the past 20 years, with support from family, elders, and friends from other nations, canoe carving and racing has once again become central to my people. It brings me great pride to see our young people paddling on our traditional waters and racing in canoes that we have built together. Our paddlers now participate in races up and down the coast and it will be a great thing to see our canoes racing at the Four Fires Festival in False Creek. I welcome people from near and far to join us, to celebrate, and to learn about traditional First Nations canoe racing.”
Mike Billy Sr.
“As a canoe club captain and coach for the North Vancouver Canoe Club, I am regularly supporting Squamish paddlers as they race in different parts of the province. It brings me great pride to welcome other nations and prepare to have our paddlers race in these waters at the Four Fires Festival. I am excited to share our sport with the broader community as we continue to support the growth of competitive First Nations canoe racing culture.”