BC ABORIGINAL CULTURE STORY IDEAS

Story Line Flat Sheet

The attached .pdf is an extended list of story lines from those listed below.

Cultural Journey The Cultural Journey Sea to Sky, a shared legacy which includes world renowned cultural and experiential tourism features including:

* 7 cultural kiosks along the Sea -to Sky highway
* 138 new Aboriginally-themed highway signs
* A Cultural Journey map of the corridor
* A 168 page gallery book explaining the journey
Cultural Map
Cultural Press Release

Dramatic Meeting Space The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a world-class attraction showcasing the distinct cultures of two Aboriginal (Indian) peoples of British Columbia--the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation--will open in June 2008. Squamish and Lil’wat hosts welcome guests as they enter though magnificent hand-carved cedar doors and alongside pictograph-embossed boulders. Once inside, massive spindle whorls, suspended canoes, intricate weavings and ceremonial drumming--with a backdrop of mountains seen through unobstructed glass planks--provide a truly dramatic setting for any meeting.

Ancient Cultures, Ancient Stories The Squamish and Lil'wat oral histories are rich in ancient knowledge of the lands around them. Every mountain, every river has a story. In the Time of Transformation supernatural creatures, full of magic and mayhem, roamed the area. Today, their signs can be found in the shape of mountains and rivers, and their stories continue to teach important lessons about BC Aboriginal culture.

The Rivers & Oceans Were Our Highways The great canoe culture of the Squamish and Lil’wat people is the main theme of the majestic Great Hall. Pre-eminent artists of the two Nations have carved a number of canoes in styles that have not been created in the community for several generations. These styles include the chachu7- Salish hunting/ travelling canoe, the kxwu7lh-Salish travelling canoe, the snech’elhp-shovelnose river canoe, and the old Salish-style racing canoe.

Reweaving the Stories Northwest indigenous people were historically called the Weavers of the Pacific Northwest. The Salish Weaving Program has revived the weaving practice by identifying the accomplished weavers of the Squamish and Lil’wat nations, reviewing historical blankets and other weavings, and training a new generation of weavers. The weavers are creating contemporary designs, as well as traditional ones. Among the Lil’wat people, under the auspices of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, the fine art of basket weaving is being brought back from the brink of extinction by identifying the remaining master weavers, and providing a venue for them to pass on their considerable knowledge to a new generation.

Regeneration At Its Best The Aboriginal Youth Ambassador Program was created to develop the skills and capacity of the talented youth of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. The program teaches hands-on aspects of the cultures including canoeing, drum making, paddle making, cedar bark weaving, and carving. The youth have also gained entrepreneurial skills to be utilized for visitor information and cultural demonstrations about BC Aboriginal culture.

Architecture Inspired by Ancient Culture The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is a three-storey, 30,400 square foot complex consisting of three buildings on a 1.76 ha (4.35 acre) site. The center is evocative of a Squamish Longhouse and Lil’wat Istken (earthen pit house), with pictograph-adorned boulders gracing the walkways along the approach to the carved cedar entry doors. Massive beams and endless glass allow the stunning local scenery to become a backdrop for every work of art. In consultation with the Nations, it has been designed to conform to LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System, to share their cultures with the world.