Letter from Chief Ron Sam, Songhees Nation re: South Island Powwow Sponsorship

Songhees Nation

əyʔ skʷéčəl Good Day,

On behalf of the Songhees Nation, we are pleased to invite you to support the 5th Annual South Island Powwow, taking place on September 30, 2026, at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, BC. This meaningful event honours Survivors of Indian Residential Schools, Day Schools, and the Sixties Scoop, as well as the children who never returned home.

With support from the City of Victoria, the powwow brings together community members, families, and visitors to celebrate Indigenous culture, share knowledge, and recognize the resilience of Indigenous peoples. We are reaching out to request your support in helping us deliver this important gathering.

The South Island Powwow continues to grow each year, welcoming a diverse audience from across Vancouver Island and beyond. In previous years, the event has attracted up to 20,000 attendees per year, including community members, families, Elders, youth, and visitors, making it one of the region’s most significant cultural gatherings.

Through continued growth in attendance, engagement, and media attention, the South Island Powwow offers meaningful visibility for sponsors while supporting a powerful and culturally significant event.

We are seeking contributions for costs associated with this event. With four incredibly successful events in the rear view, the South Island Powwow looks forward to growing and providing more opportunity to Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples to gather in a safe space. If you are interested in supporting our event with financial sponsorship or in-kind donations, please review the attached South Island Powwow Sponsorship Deck or visit our website at https://www.songheesnation.ca/south-island-powwow

For further information, please connect with Samantha Dean, Event Planner, by phone at (250) 218-1444 or by email at sipowwow@songheesnation.com. On behalf of Songhees Nation and the South Island Powwow Committee, həyšxʷq̓ ə, thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to seeing you at the Powwow!

Sincerely,

Chief Ron Sam, Songhees Nation

1100 Admirals Road Victoria, BC V9A 2P6 | Phone 250-386-1043 | Fax 250-386-4161