26 Jan PRESS RELEASE: Feature Exhibition Fighting for Justice opens at the SLCC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Feature Exhibition Fighting for Justice – On the Coast | Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Lil̓wat7úl opens Saturday, January 27, 2024, at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, B.C.
January 26, 2024, Skw̲xw̲ú7mesh / Líl̓wat7úl (Whistler, BC) – The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) invites guests to experience its latest exhibition: Fighting for Justice – On the Coast | Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Lil̓wat7úl.
The exhibit features a travelling exhibition on the history of Fighting for Justice on the Coast from Vancouver Island University, alongside stories from the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation curated by Mixalhítsa7 Alison Pascal (Lil’wat Nation).
The Fighting for Justice – On the Coast exhibit, examines how Indigenous Peoples and Asian Canadians have been fighting for justice, for over 150 years. While working against dispossession and exclusion, the exhibit looks at the courage of ordinary people who contributed to justice for their communities.
The Fighting for Justice – Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Lil̓wat7úl exhibit showcases how Nation members have been working since the arrival of Europeans to protect their rights and interests in their territories. The introduction of the Indian Act and its many amendments by the Federal Government have attempted to prevent the nations from having their voices heard. Collectively Indigenous People have made many groups to lobby for Indigenous rights, working through peaceful relations before resorting to protests and roadblocks. Art, ceremony, languages, names, and ways of being are fostering relationships for Indigenous peoples with non-Indigenous peoples but colonial challenges to rights and title persist. The exhibition only tells a few stories of the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations fighting for justice for their people and land.
Curator Mixalhítsa7 Alison Pascal shares “Fighting for Justice is an important exhibition to bring to the SLCC to help share information of unseen barriers to success and equality for Indigenous Peoples; it shows the shared experiences of Asian Peoples settling in BC, and in Canada as well”
The Fighting for Justice exhibit complements the 100 Years of Unity: Celebrating 100 Years of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) exhibit in Gallery 2 of the Museum, and follows last year’s feature exhibit UNCEDED: S7ulh Temíxw / Ti Tmicwkálha / Our Land – A Photographic Journey into Belonging, all sharing enriching educational experiences at the SLCC on the history of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and the Lil̓wat7úl.
The SLCC gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the Province of British Columbia, the First People’s Cultural Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and the British Columbia Arts Council.
The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre invites Media, Nation Members, SLCC Members, and public guests to view Fighting for Justice in Gallery 3 of the Museum, opening on Saturday, January 27*, 2024, and running until March 31, 2024.
The SLCC is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am – 5 pm (Closed Monday), and occasionally closes early for private events – plan your visit at slcc.ca/visit *The SLCC is closing early on Saturday, January 27 at 2 pm.
To learn more visit: https://slcc.ca/justice/
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