About Us

Our Vision

Where our Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Líl̓wat7úl cultures meet, grow and are shared.

Our Mission

We are a centre sharing meaningful experiences, educating all, and lifting our distinct Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Líl̓wat7úl ways.

Our Core Values

Passion
Empowerment
Accountability
Collaboration
Equality

Our Story

Welcome to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
The Squamish and Lil’wat Nations have coexisted respectfully as neighbors since time immemorial. We have thrived on the bounty of the ocean, the rivers, and the land — living in close relationship with the world around us. Our cultures are grounded in rich, ancient traditions, and continue to grow and evolve in a modern world.
We have built the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) to share our cultural knowledge to inspire understanding and respect amongst all people , and we hope that by visiting our Cultural Centre, that you will embrace this vision and live by it.
Our people have treated the site with respect, building on the northern side of the property — leaving the forested area mostly untouched. The building is designed to evoke the longhouses of our Squamish people and the Istken (traditional earthen pit house) of our Lil’wat people with a modern architectural interpretation.
In 1997 the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) met with the Lil’wat Nation to consult about opportunities for the Nation’s participation and presence in Whistler BC. Out of these discussions, the idea of a world-class cultural centre was born and a relationship in the spirit of goodwill and cooperation evolved.
Mindful of the historic precedence of shared lands and the overlapping interests in land stewardship, the Lil’wat Nation met with the Squamish Nation in 1999 to discuss land use and planning in areas of traditional territory overlap. As a result, in 2001 the two Nations signed a historic Protocol Agreement, which formalized our mutual relationship. This Protocol Agreement commits us to continued co-operation in matters of cultural and economic development, and co-management of shared territory. The only agreement of its kind in Canada, the Protocol Agreement, formalized our mutual relationship.
Opened in 2008, our Cultural Centre, located in beautiful Whistler BC, embodies the spirit of partnership between two unique Nations who wish to preserve, grow and share our traditional cultures. It stands as testimony to our proud heritage — from time immemorial to the present.
The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre (SLCC) in Whistler is a non-profit registered charity*, an Indigenous-owned organization, and employs over 90% Indigenous Ambassadors. All proceeds are invested into meaningful employment, training (including Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program) and cultural revitalization programs for the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Lil̓wat7úl (Lil’wat Nation), through the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líḻwat7ul Cultural Centre.

*Registered name: The Spo7ez Cultural Centre and Community Society
For more information on the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, visit our Nations’ websites at www.squamish.net and www.lilwat.ca.

Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is proud to be named in The Original Original Accreditation Program with Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada (ITAC). The Original Original mark of excellence recognizes the SLCC as one of Canada’s best Indigenous tourism experiences and assures visitors of a quality tourism experience. As an Indigenous-owned business, the SLCC contributes to elevating Canada’s authentic Indigenous tourism industry. As Whistler’s only authentic Indigenous experience, the SLCC shares memorable experiences celebrating the distinct Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Líl̓wat7úl ways, and provides meaningful employment with over 90% Indigenous Ambassadors from the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation – the shared territory where Whistler resides.

https://originaloriginal.ca/
https://lilwat.ca/