Honouring Warrior Women at Rhythms of Resilience 2025
On September 25, our community came together in song, dance and story for Rhythms of Resilience: Voices of Warrior Women.
Held each year ahead of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, this gathering is not a performance or festival; it is a space to honour Survivors and intergenerational Survivors, to remember the children who never came home and to witness the strength and care that Indigenous communities continue to carry forward.
This year’s theme, warrior women, resonated throughout the evening, which opened with words from Elder Mary Point of Musqueam. The hall carried a sense of warmth and welcome. Spakwus Slolem (Eagle Song Dancers), Hayley Wallis, and Tsatsu Stalqayu (Coastal Wolf Pack) offered teachings and movement that honoured matriarchs, mothers, aunties and grandmothers, the women who hold language, protect families and carry traditions forward.
Midway through the program, the Women’s Warrior Song rose in the hall. Emcees Erin Seeley and Celeste Haldane invited matriarchs and women to stand, acknowledging warrior women among us. Then, as the song lifted again, the audience joined in. The hall filled with voices, some strong, some tentative, but together forming a chorus of recognition and gratitude. It was a moment of collective witness that reached beyond performance into ceremony.
The vendor tables added another layer of connection. Indigenous artists and makers offered a diverse selection of goods, from beadwork and jewelry to tea and chocolate! Visitors did not just browse, they listened, learned and built relationships.
As we pursue our commitment to reconciliation, may we continue to honour the children who never came home and the Survivors and families who live with this history every day. May we carry forward the voices of warrior women, whose strength continues to guide and protect communities.
To learn more about how you can support our Indigenous Initiatives and Engagement program, contact Kathy Lilyholm at 604 895 5851 or klilyholm@ywcavan.org.
