Welcome!
We are happy to announce that 2021 will mark the return of our annual Osprey Festival at Maplewood Flats! This year, we are celebrating the 122nd birthday of Chief Dan George!
Join us for this free public event —— whether in-person or via livestream —–that showcases this beautiful piece of nature in Burrard Inlet, unceded Tsleil-Waututh Nation territory.
We have assembled an exciting lineup of musicians, performers, and naturalists to celebrate the 122nd birthday of Chief Dan George. The main stage performances will begin with a Tsleil-Waututh opening ceremony, followed by children’s storytelling by Squamish elder, Kultsia Barbara Wyss. Poet Wil George will take the stage to give a reading, followed by an interview of legendary naturalist Al Grass by Ryan Brandlmayr.
The 14th Osprey Festival marks the long-anticipated return of in-person guided group walks on the trails! In the Nature House, we will have the Museum of North Vancouver (MONOVA) exhibit Chief Dan George: Actor and Activist alongside photographs of Tsleil-Waututh community members by Nancy Bleck. There will be salmon BBQ burgers and bannock for sale. Our Coast Salish Plant Nursery will be open.
Come celebrate nature, wildlife, and local Indigenous culture!
Days Hours Minutes Seconds
Festival Programme
Live Music & Poetry under the trees
Music Stage
Watch the festival livestream on @MaplewoodFlats Facebook page: fb.me/maplewoodflats
10:05 -10:10 Opening Welcome
10:10-10:40 Saeid Kooshki
10:40 – 11:10 Kultsia Barbara Wyss storytelling
11:10 – 11:35 Wil George
11:35 – 12:05 Al Grass interviewed by Ryan Brandlmayr
12:05 -12:20 TWN Drumming (Nick/Rob)
12:20 – 12:40 Rachelle George
12:55 – 1:35 Sandy Scofield Trio
1:45 – 2:25 Trevor Carolan Trio
2:30 – 3:00 Ta7ah Amy George Lament for Confederation
3:15 – 4:00 Murray Porter
Walks
12 persons maximum / Registration required – Join a guided walk or wander at your own pace to our three nature stations along the trails, where you can observe birds and other wildlife at Maplewood Flats. Meet at the Greeter Hut. Visit our Eventbrite page to register:
Register to Reserve Your SpoT
10:30 – 11:20 Indigenous Plant Walk with Senaqwila Wyss
03:00 – 03:50 Indigenous Plant Walk with Senaqwila Wyss
Join Senaqwila Wyss for a guided walk of Maplewood Flats, where she discusses identification techniques, edible plants and cultural significance of the diverse plants and plant communities found at Maplewood Flats.
11:00 – 11:50 Nature Walk with Kevin Bell
02:00 – 02:50 Nature Walk with Kevin Bell
Hosted by Kevin Bell, lifelong Naturalist, ornithologist/ecologist, and retired Chief Naturalist / Manager at Lynn Canyon Ecology Centre and D.N.V. Natural Parklands.
11:15 – 12:05 Decolonizing Public Art Walk with Irwin Oostindie
Register to reserve your spot
Join Irwin Oostindie for a walk that tours the public art on-site, and investigates the past present and future of the site as it is represented by settler, Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish artists.
Chief Dan George: Activist & Actor Exhibit
10am-4PM
The exhibit explores the life and legacy of Tsleil-Waututh Chief Dan George (Tśētsawanexw & Stalaston), 1899-1981. The exhibit focuses on his influence as an advocate for the rights of First Nations Peoples and his career as an actor. It also considers other significant figures, events and milestones in the First Nations rights movement in BC and Canada, and touches on the wider history and portrayal of indigenous people in film and television. The exhibition also connects his esteemed legacy to this place, and enables Tsleil-Waututh members and North Vancouver residents to witness these stories so close to his home.
Visit our Calendly scheduling page to make a reservation. Upon registration, you will receive additional instructions for your visit.
Kids Activities
10am-4pm – Picnic tables near greeter hut
We will host a children’s scavenger hunt for families from around the picnic table area.
BBQ Feast
10am-2pm – Picnic tables near greeter hut
10:00 -10:45 – Coffee and snacks
12:00 – 2pm – Special Birthday feast! There will be elk BBQ burgers and bannock; and vegan sausages for sale.
Coast Salish Plant Nursery
10am-4pm – Plant Nursery adjacent to the Nature Hourse
Our Coast Salish Plant Nursery will be open and displaying native plant infographics. Enjoy special festival plant sales.
#14thOspreyFest
Tag us with #14OspreyFest on photos and tweets you share of the event for a chance to win a draw prize of Maplewood Flats swag.
On the Trails
Free scopes and observation stations host skilled birders and naturalists sharing knowledge at Osprey Point and the Mudflats.
Osprey Point
Use a scope to spot one of Burrard Inlet’s rare predatory osprey. These birds are living proof of the effectiveness of conservation and restoration efforts to help species at risk.
Eastern Mudflats
Learn about the story of the Western Purple Martins, which nest in the small boxes located in the Eastern Mudflats. See a nest box close up or use a scope to see the birds in action!
More about the performers, artists,
poets, and storytellers
Murray Porter
Blues singer, songwriter and piano-man
Murray Porter has been telling the Aboriginal side of history for over 30 years, spreading his unique style of foot-stomping, hand clapping mix of country, blues and humor around the globe. The multi-talented, self-taught musician has drawn comparison to the likes of Dr. John, Joe Cocker and Delbert McClinton.
Halth-Leah Sla-holt (Ta7ah Amy George)
Elder, Grandmother-Tsleil-waututh nation
Elder Halth-Leah Sla-holt (Ta’ah Amy George)
will share reflections on the life and legacy of her father, Chief Dan George.
As part of Chief Dan George: Actor and Activist Exhibit at Maplewood Flats, Ta7ah Amy George will recite her father’s powerful Lament for Confederation, the famous speech he first delivered in 1967.
Photo source for illustration: Stefan Labbé.
Take Public Transit, ride your bike,
or carpool!
Maplewood Flats might seem far away, but it’s actually very quick from East Vancouver by taking bus #210 along Cordova and transferring at Phibbs Exchange to the #212. Check the schedule. It takes 35 minutes from Main Street to Maplewood Flats.
Check out the #212 bus schedule on Translink.
Please be aware and practice COVID-19 safety protocols.
Seeking volunteers for Osprey Festival
Help with membership/info table, children’s art-making station, parking, trail host, room set-up/clean-up, food service, A/V tech & more!
Sign up for a 2-4 hour shift.
Volunteer Sign-up
volunteer@wildbirdtrust.org
Info Tables
maplewoodflats@gmail.com
