Art & Décor

National Indigenous Peoples Day

City of Surrey

Creating a Meaningful Backdrop for Community and Celebration

Each year, National Indigenous Peoples Day provides an opportunity to celebrate the cultures, traditions, histories, and contributions of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples. The City of Surrey’s National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration brought community members together at the Bill Reid Millennium Amphitheatre in Cloverdale for an afternoon of sharing, teaching, art, music, entertainment, traditional foods, and wellness.
 
Naut’sa mawt Event Management’s Art & Décor team was engaged to support the event through a thoughtfully designed stage installation that brought Indigenous art and natural elements into the heart of the celebration. As the visual focal point of the event, the stage needed to feel impactful and welcoming while complementing the performances, speakers, and activities taking place throughout the day.
 

At the centre of the design was a large-scale button blanket backdrop featuring artwork by Mike Russell Forbes. The backdrop created a strong visual anchor for the stage, complemented by greenery and natural elements that added texture, dimension, and softness to the overall installation. NEM’s Raven Boxes were also incorporated throughout the stage design, creating additional visual interest and cohesion.
 
Naut’sa mawt Event Management Art & Décor services included:

  • Rental and installation of the Mike Russell Forbes ‘Raven Button Blanket’ stage backdrop
  • Rental and placement of Mike Russell Forbes’ ‘Raven Boxes’
  • Greenery and natural elements to add texture and softness to the stage
  • On-site installation and styling
  • On-site coordination and project management within a busy public-event environment
  • Full teardown following the event

A highlight of the project was seeing the completed stage become a central gathering point throughout the celebration. With a large number of community members moving through the public event, the Art & Décor team carefully coordinated installation and teardown around event operations, site activity, performers, and attendees. The result was an installation that was visually impactful while remaining functional and appropriate for a highly attended community celebration.
 
Through a combination of Indigenous artwork, natural materials, and thoughtful styling, NEM’s Art & Décor team helped create a warm and distinctive setting for Surrey’s National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration. The project demonstrates how intentional event design can support the atmosphere and purpose of an event while ensuring the practical requirements of a large-scale public gathering are carefully managed.