Reconciliation between Indigenous and nonindigenous peoples can take many forms.

This morning, it involved a free pancake breakfast in advance of the nine-day Drum Is Calling Festival.

It runs from today until July 30 at and around Larwill Park across the street from the Sandman Hotel on West Georgia Street.

The free brekkie was held in advance of the opening ceremony at noon for the festival, which is being put on by the City of Vancouver and the three host nations: the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh.

All events are free including tonight's concert featuring the legendary Buffy Sainte-Marie, Bitterly Divine, and Murray Porter.

Sunday (July 24) it will be Tom Jackson, Crystal Shawanda, and William Price's turn to entertain Vancouverites for free.

On Monday (July 25), Larwill Park willl be the site of free performances by Inuit throat singer Tanya Tagaq, Susan Aglukark, and Amanda Rheume.

In addition to musical performances throughout the week, the Drum Is Calling Festival is putting on the inaugural Vancouver Indigenous Fashion Week, which was devised by former international model Joleen Mitton.

It's all part of the Canada 150+ celebrations honouring the 10,000 years of history of the Coast Salish people in this region. 

There are also Canada 150+ downtown walking tours (4 p.m. Sunday (July 23), Monday (July 24), and Wednesday, (July 26), which will pass by new murals by Indigenous artists.

In addition, there are theatre performances for young audiences called Th'owxiya: The Hungry Feast Dish, demonstrations of Indigenous drumming, displays of Indigenous artwork, and many other events throughout the week. 

So if you're interested in learning more about the Indigenous culture that predated colonization on Canada's west coast and want to take a positive step toward building reconciliation in our town—or you simply like listening to free music—take the time to drop by. It's only a stone's throw from Stadium-Chinatown Station. You might be surprised by what you discover.