Event Highlights:

The Kikineen Festival, held at Mission Creek Regional Park, Kelowna, BC, celebrated the spectacle of spawning salmon, specifically the kikinee (Kokanee) salmon. Attendees had the opportunity to join guided walks along the spawning channel, witnessing the salmon in action and learning about their environmental and cultural significance. The event featured live music, arts and crafts, interactive storytelling, and information booths representing various community partners.

The festival began with a Syilx welcome and was accompanied by performances from the North Okanagan Pipes and Drums. Magician Leif David entertained both children and adults, followed by a dance party on the lawn featuring giant puppets. The event concluded with a performance by the Nice & Easy music duo.

It's estimated that over 500 people attended the festival, with parking lots filled to capacity. Throughout the day, there were engaging activities such as Kiki the Eco Elf and a salmon storytelling tent, making the event inclusive and enjoyable for the entire community.

The Kikineen Festival served as an excellent platform to raise awareness about the Coastal Water Protectors program and foster potential collaborations with like-minded organizations in the region.

Purpose to Attend:

Louise Lambert represented the Coastal Water Protectors (CWP) at the Kikineen Festival, held at Mission Creek Regional Park in Kelowna, BC, on September 9, 2023. The primary purpose of her attendance was to inform and promote the Coastal Water Protectors program within the Okanagan Valley. Additionally, she recommended that the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) include CWP as an informative booth in their future events and explore potential partnerships.

Results:

The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) showed a highly receptive attitude towards Louise Lambert's suggestion to include CWP in future events. They expressed their intention to extend an invitation to CWP for future collaborations, with Lambert following up on this opportunity.

Additional Engagement:

The Kikineen Festival provided an excellent opportunity for Louise Lambert to engage with various organizations, many of which expressed interest in the Coastal Water Protectors program and potential partnerships. These organizations included:

• Okanagan Nation Alliance, Westbank, BC.
• Central Okanagan Naturalists Club, dedicated to learning about and preserving natural areas.
• Oasiss (Okanagan and Similkameen Invasive Species Society), Summerland, BC.
• Okanagan Waterwise.
• Dontmoveamussels.ca.
• Okanagan Science, University of BC.
• Stewardship Centre for BC.

All these organizations were provided with the CWP Volume 2 brochure for reference, along with Louise Lambert's BC Metis Federation business card for future contact. She also pointed out the QR code on the brochure, which seemed to delight the recipients. Notably, the Central Okanagan Naturalist Club expressed interest in programs for children.