Líl̓wat Nation, Pemberton & District Public Library, Village of Pemberton and SLRD to host evening of storytelling and reflection for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Pemberton, B.C., Líl̓wat Nation Territory – Líl̓wat Nation, the Pemberton & District Public Library, Village of Pemberton and the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) are inviting community members to an evening of storytelling, reflection and conversation in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.

The event will take place Tuesday, September 29, 2026, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Pemberton & District Community Centre with special hosts Lil̓wat Nation Councillors Lhpatq Maxine Bruce and Xzúmalus Roxanne Joe. It will feature a reading with writer Julian Brave Noisecat, descendant of the Líl̓wat Nation, from his book We Survived the Night, followed by a moderated discussion. A light meal of salmon chowder and bannock will also be served. The first 45 people to arrive will receive a complimentary copy of We Survived the Night, courtesy of the Pemberton & District Public Library.

Julian Brave Noisecat is a writer, Academy Award-nominated filmmaker and member of the Canim Lake Band Tsq’escen. His writing has appeared in publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post and The New Yorker, and his first documentary, Sugarcane, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary.

We Survived the Night is described as a powerful portrait of contemporary Indigenous life, bringing together investigative journalism, colonial history, Salish Coyote stories and a deeply personal father-son journey. The book explores identity, family and the lasting impacts of colonialism, while also looking toward survival and possibility.

The evening will provide an opportunity to hear directly from Noisecat, consider the themes raised in his work and gather as a community ahead of September 30. It will also invite participants to consider how the lessons of the day can carry forward into the way people live, act and relate to one another throughout the year.

“National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a time to remember the difficult truths of our shared history, honour the lives that have been impacted and listen to the experiences of Indigenous Peoples,” said Chief Dean Nelson, Líl̓wat Nation. “Our gathering with Julian Noisecat gives us an opportunity to do that together. But our work does not end on September 30. My hope is that we can move forward from reflection with intention, choosing kindness and respect in the way we treat one another and strengthening the relationships between our communities.”

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, held across Canada each year on September 30, honours the children who never came home from residential schools, survivors, families and communities, and recognizes the ongoing impacts of colonialism.
 

Event details: Julian Brave Noisecat, reading from We Survived the Night

Date and location: Tuesday, September 29, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Pemberton & District Community Centre - Great Hall

Special hosts: Lil̓wat Nation Councillors Lhpatq Maxine Bruce and  Xzúmalus Roxanne Joe. Moderated discussion led by Luke Faulks, Pique Newsmagazine

Presented by: Líl̓wat Nation, Pemberton & District Library, Village of Pemberton and Squamish-Lillooet Regional District. Salmon chowder and bannock will be available

For more information visit the Facebook event page. Registration is not required

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About Líl̓wat Nation

Líl̓wat Nation is a progressive First Nations community located 7 km north of Pemberton, BC. With a membership of almost 2,300 people – approximately 1,495 of whom live in the community – the Líl̓wat Nation is the third-largest First Nation in the province. The Nation is striving towards self-determination for, and by, the citizens of Líl̓wat by continuing to exert control over its Traditional Territory and resources. With economic development focused on land and resource management, Líl̓wat Nation is building the foundation for a sustainable community by exploring opportunities in retail, forestry, construction, agriculture, energy projects, and tourism. The Líl̓wat Nation’s government, headed by an elected Chief, a Culture Chief, and an 11-person Council, is committed to transparency and employs best practices in all aspects of governance.

About the Village of Pemberton

Incorporated in 1956, the Village of Pemberton spans approximately six square kilometres and is home to more than 3,400 residents, along with a vibrant business and agricultural community. As the local municipal government, the Village is led by an elected Council and supported by an executive team that oversees a wide range of services, including planning and development, parks and recreation, public utilities, bylaw enforcement, emergency services and fire rescue, financial and legislative services, human resources, communications, and the implementation of Pemberton's Official Community Plan.

About the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District

Located in southwestern BC, the Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) is a local government federation consisting of four member municipalities (the District of Lillooet, the District of Squamish, the Village of Pemberton and the Resort Municipality of Whistler) and four unincorporated, rural electoral areas (A, B, C, and D). Headquartered in Pemberton, which is the approximate geographic centre of the region, the SLRD delivers a wide range of local, regional and sub-regional services to approximately 50,496 residents (2021 Census as certified by the Minister of Municipal Affairs).

The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District is found within the traditional territories of several First Nations, including the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish), St'át'imc and Líl̓wat. Small parts of the SLRD also overlap with the traditional territories of the Stó:lō, Tsleil-Waututh, Nlaka'pamux, Tsilhqot'in, and Secwepemc Nations. While the SLRD does not provide direct services to the residents of the First Nations communities located within the region, the organization is committed to enhancing relations with the Indigenous communities and First Nations within whose territories the SLRD operates.
 

Media contacts:
Líl̓wat Nation
communications@lilwat.ca

Village of Pemberton
communications@pemberton.ca

Squamish-Lillooet Regional District
communications@slrd.bc.ca