Skip to content
  1. Home
  2. In the Community

Time Traveller: Squamish Nation orchestra performs at events around the region

The Squamish Indian brass band was first organized in November 1886
North Shore News
Time Traveller ( for March 3)WEB
NVMA 4800

This photo shows the Squamish Indian Band Orchestra around 1958 in the auditorium on the Mission Reserve.

Members of the brass band shown here included Andy Paull (band leader), James Nahanee, Frank Miranda, Phillip Joe, and Chief Moses Joseph. The remainder of the members are identified in the Archives of North Vancouver catalogue record.

The Squamish Indian brass band was first organized in November 1886 under the leadership of Henry Edwards from St. Mary's Mission. Instruments were ordered from Eastern Canada and these apparently arrived in early January 1887. Starting in 1925, there was a modern dance band part of the Squamish Indian Band Orchestra.

The band played at many community events around the region, like the international Indian war canoe races held at Penns Cove on Whidby Island, Washington in 1933 and in aid of The Sun Santa Claus Fund at the Beacon Theatre in 1930. They also performed at concerts to raise funds for St. Paul’s Catholic Church altar fund.

Visit MONOVA's website for more information about the history of the North Shore and to learn about MONOVA: Museum of North Vancouver, opening in 2021.

Currently, the Archives of North Vancouver at 3203 Institute Rd. in Lynn Valley is open by appointment only. Contact: archives@monova.ca