27 Jun PRESS RELEASE: SLCC to host Lil’wat Master Carver Jonathan Joe carving for the Salish Summer Carving Series.
For Immediate Release
Updated July 10, 2024 – The start date and Log Blessing for the Salish Summer Carving Series will begin on Thursday, July 11 at 11 am.
June 27, 2024, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Líl̓wat7úl Territory (Whistler, BC) – The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler (SLCC) is hosting live carving for the Salish Summer Carving Series, with Master Carver Jonathan Joe, Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat Nation), mentoring SLCC Apprentice Redmond Q̓áwam̓ Andrews, Lil̓wat7úl (Lil̓’wat Nation) from July 11 – September 1, 2024. Carving throughout summer at the entrance to SLCC’s Great Hall, the story pole will incorporate designs that honour the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes signed in 1911.
The fifth installment of SLCC’s Salish Summer Carving Series, the carving will begin with a cedar log blessing ceremony on Thursday, July 11 at 11 am. This year’s Lil’wat Nation Artists will carve throughout the summer for the second year of the two-year immersive experience creating a pair of carvings, that featured Master Carver Xwalacktun (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh / Kwakwak’wakw / Namgis) mentoring Brandon Hall (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) carving during the summer of 2023. The two carvings will be sisters, telling a complimentary story and bringing them new life as carving authentic to the territory, and the new pole by Jonathan Joe will eventually stand beside the house post by Xwalacktun at the SLCC’s entrance on Lorimer Road.
“The presence of our Master Carver mentoring an Apprentice at the SLCC allows for deep and meaningful conversations that go beyond carving. We continue the longstanding education system of our Ancestors, youth working side by side with Knowledge Keepers and Elders, and at the end is a beautiful carving, a visual reminder that transforms the intangible into tangible wealth, a reminder of how our families connect to the land.” Says Mixalhítsa7 Alison Pascal. “I’m excited to have Lil’wat Nation carvers working at the SLCC this year to tell the story of the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes. It’s an important event to st̓at̓yemc Nation communities including the Lil̓wat Nation. It’s a foundation to how our leaders guide our communities.”
Jonathan Joe shares “I’m excited to be carving and sharing time together with Redmond this summer, and meet everybody and create this pole for everyone, it’s a very inspiring time.
The carving will feature in the curated Salish Summer Carving Tour included with Museum Admission, at 11am Wednesday through Saturday until September 1, 2024. The specially curated tour will be a guided journey with an SLCC Ambassador, beginning with a welcome drum song, storytelling will showcase art and oral traditions from both the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation throughout the Great Hall telling of their distinctive connection to the land of the shared territories. The tour will then introduce this year’s Salish Summer Carving an immersive carving session connecting with Master Carver and Apprentice. Guests will learn about the Tree of Life and the spirit of each carving, continuing to give to land and culture long after they have fallen.
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.
Nation members, Allyship partners, SLCC members, community partners, and guests are invited to witness the Cedar Log Blessing (date to be determined) at the entrance to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre at 4584 Blackcomb Way, Whistler. Guests are encouraged to join Master Carver Jonathan Joe, and Apprentice Redmond Q̓áwam̓ Andrews and experience the Salish Summer Carving Series on Wednesday through Saturday at the entrance to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler until September 1, 2024, and can join a Salish Summer Carving guided tour at 11am Wednesday through Saturday included with Museum Admission.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre gratefully acknowledges the Government of Canada and the Resort Municipality of Whistler for their generous support of the Sister Poles and the Salish Summer Carving Series.
To learn more about this Press Release, Events and Tours visit: slcc.ca/carving
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
About Jonathan Joe
Jonathan Joe, of the Lil’wat Nation, was born and raised in Mount Currie, B.C. and has lived there all his life. Jonathan was interested in carving at a very early age. As a child he was first inspired by a carving hanging on his wall in his family home. He realized his desire to learn more about the art form of carving while he was in elementary school. He started learning how to carve on wood from the First Nations art instructors Jeff Wallace of Lil’wat Nation, and Tyrone Joseph of Squamish Nation at the Xet̓ólacw Community School. Jonathan developed his skills and his own style of carving throughout the years. He works with bark, driftwood and red and yellow cedar. His inspiration comes through the natural beauty of the outdoors that surrounds him. He carves wall plaques, paddles and masks.
Jonathan played a big part on the carving team for the 2010 Olympics and Squamish Líl’wat Culture Centre carving projects. Jonathan is a leading carver in the Lil’wat Nation and has completed several commissioned pieces that are on display in the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s Great Hall including the one of the 20ft carved longhouse posts from the Spirit Within Carving Project that represent family stories alongside carvers Ray Natraoro, Xwalacktun, Aaron Nelson-Moody in 2012. His story pole honours the Wolf Clan, as the SLCC is located on their traditional territory, and features a wolf howling at the moon, a man, and an istken pithouse. Also showcased are his contributions of River and Lake Canoes, the Lil’wat Spindle Whorl and the Moon Mask.
Jonathan Joe shares “Being Líl’wat Nation and having spiritual beliefs, inspires my work today, I had a dream of carving a canoe long before I began to carve my first canoe.”
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