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SLCC expands artistic offerings

Carving and weaving projects take shape at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
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Whistler's Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre first flung its beautifully carved doors open over one year ago, welcoming visitors from around the world and locals in to explore the cultures of the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations. Now that the centre's final three exhibits - the traditional outdoor longhouse and istken replicas and forest walk exhibit - have been completed, it seems like the centre now has loads of arts programming scheduled to take place in its confines this summer.

Sarah Goodwin is the manager of training and program development at the Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre.

"Now that we've got expanded space to offer programming, we feel it's really important to engage visitors in a variety of traditional arts programming," she said.

The SLCC has just launched its summer art offerings with two youth-elder programs: a regalia program taught by Lil'wat Nation elder Barb Peters and a large-scale carving project with Squamish Chief Floyd Joseph.

"Much of what we're doing at the centre is connecting people with the cultures of each of the nations and elders have the experience and knowledge that has been built through generations, and so we try to ensure that the Aboriginal Youth Ambassadors working here have the opportunity to learn from elders in their communities in a variety of disciplines."

It's a way for the two nations to hand down traditions to their youth, and to share their culture with members of the non-Native community who visit the centre. In the case of both the elders and youth, Goodwin said interest in the programming has been strong, so far.

The 10 selected participants, who come from Vancouver, Squamish and Mount Currie, are members of the centre's youth ambassador program. They will receive certification in a range of business and tourism areas, including a post secondary component through Capilano University as they progress through the program.

"Our Aboriginal Ambassador program is a summer program that incorporates elements of education, training, cultural knowledge and work experience and it's a 10-week program," Goodwin said. "The program provides Aboriginal youth from both nations with the opportunity to learn about their language and culture, as well as gain employment skills development in a variety of the functional areas within the centre."

Peters' regalia workshop features pieces of traditional attire or apparel used in First Nations ceremonies.

"So the regalia that they're making with Barb, it's a variety of things based on each Ambassador's interest. The primary objective is each person will be making moccasins or footwear, and other people in addition to that are supplementing their regalia by making things like capes and skirts," Goodwin said.

The Ambassadors will then wear the pieces they've made during performance and daily hosting activities at the centre.

Chief Floyd Joseph's carving project will teach the youth about aspects of the practice of carving and the history and legends relating to the shared territory of the Squamish and Lil'wat Nations. After the piece is completed, it will be installed permanently at the SLCC.

On top of the regalia and large-scale carving projects, every Tuesday and Friday during the summer months, master carver Bruce Edmonds has just started to lead a team of First Nations youth in a special paddle-carving program, which started in mid-July. While some of the youth have already had a chance to try their hand at traditional carvings, others have never previously picked up a chisel.

"It's extremely exciting - it's great - because the focus of the cultural centre is to ensure that we support the vision of community members and elders, and they would really like to ensure that not only do the youth, but the general public and the people working here, have the opportunity to learn from them," Goodwin said.

This year, the centre has also joined the ranks of the eighth annual B.C. Cultural Crawl, a self-guided tour of community events throughout the province that runs from Aug. 1 to 31. Offerings range from music, theatre and dance performances, to visual arts, festivals, museum and heritage exhibitions. In the SLCC's case, they are teaching the art of Salish wool weaving and Lil'wat cedar weaving through workshops on Aug. 8, 9 and 15, respectively, and another two culinary workshops later in the summer. All are open to members of the general public.

"We were approached to be involved with the B.C. Cultural Crawl, being a new cultural centre within B.C. And given our location and the interest the general public has in First Nations culture and history, we thought it was a great fit!" Goodwin said.

Squamish Nation master weavers Chief Janice George and Buddy Joseph will help participants create a tunic that can be worn or mounted and displayed as a textile art piece. This workshop takes place over two days from 9:30 a.m. until 5:30 p.m. at the SLCC. The $350 fee includes lunch, an instructional CDROM, use of a Salish loom and all supplies required to complete the project.

Cedar weaving will be taught be an accomplished Lil'wat Nation weaver, Melvin Williams, who will teach participants about the traditional uses of cedar and help them to create their own weaving. This workshop takes place from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 15, and costs $65.

To pre-register for either workshop, contact events@slcc.ca .