Summer Salish Carving Series 2024

Over the summer of 2024, the SLCC welcomed guests to experience the Summer Salish Carving Series featuring Lil’wat Nation Master Carver nkwel̓ánk Jonathan Joe mentoring Apprentice Redmond Q̓áwam̓ Andrews and was assisted by westa7 Todd Edmonds.

On Friday November 8th, gaw̓ílc wit i ucwalmícwa / The People Got Together – the Lil’wat Story Pole received an Awakening Ceremony, with the Story Pole and Carvers receiving a blessing.

gaw̓ílc wit i ucwalmícwa, The People Got Together was carved by nkwel̓ánk Jonathan Joe along with his apprentices qáwam̓ Redmond Andrews and westá7 Todd Edmonds from July-October 2024 at the SLCC.  It’s made from reclaimed cedar from a longhouse frame at Rebagliati Park in Whistler, BC.

The carving honours the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes, a foundational document that has driven the st̓át̓yemc nation in their efforts to protect their territory.

At the top is a hummingbird, for the lil̓wat nation it is the natural form of the Thunderbird, Blue Heron, Salmon and a Human that represents both female and male energy.  Throughout the carving are pictographs from the different st̓át̓yemc communities. There are five feathers on both sides of the carving and one in the human’s hands, representing each community.

The Lil’wat story pole (on the right) stands alongside the Squamish House Post (on the left) Honouring Síiýam̓ (Chiefs) carved by Xwalacktun (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh / Kwakwak’wakw / Namgis) and Brandon Hall (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) in 2023 at the entrance to the SLCC on Lorimer Road in Whistler. Together, the Sister Poles represent a deep connection to the land, the original peoples, bringing authenticity to traditional carving and storytelling in the shared territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Lil̓wat7úl.

Through the Salish Summer Carving Series, the SLCC cultivates the distinctive Skwxwú7mesh and Lílw̓at7úl ways – the authentic Indigenous culture of the shared territories that Whistler stands on, sharing a truly meaningful cultural experience with the community, guests and global audience.

The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Government of Canada Museum Assistance Program, and the Resort Municipality of Whistler for their generous support of the Sister Poles and the Salish Summer Carving Series.

Read the Press Release

To learn more about the Summer Salish Carving Series in 2023 carved by Xwalacktun and Brandon Hall visit slcc.ca/carving-2023

See the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes Exhibition in Gallery 2

The SLCC is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10am – 5pm (Closed Monday). The SLCC occasionally closes early for private events and updates can be found at slcc.ca/visit

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