Shy Watters is a member of shishalh Nation who also has Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh (Squamish), Tla’amin, and Kwakwaka’wakw ancestry. Her intricate and beautiful designs integrate the unique patterns of her rich cultural background into her work. Her preferred medium is cedar. Shy...

ch’elkwilwet Raquel Joe, Weaver, Curator and Singer ch’elkwilw has been weaving for 10 years. Her Ɂalish kwayimin taught her how to weave the basic tunic which she loved it as soon as she touched the wool and has been weaving ever since. She has created numerous...

Jessica Silvey has been weaving with wool and cedar for over thirty years, and participating in public exhibitions since 2004. Her love of Coast Salish Basketry and weaving comes from the cedar root baskets in her Grandmother’s home, baskets of various shapes, sizes...

ti’talus Audrey Joe Santiago is an Elder from shishalh Nation Ɂala ts’unay, Ɂala sxixus, born in kalpalin. She has been weaving for approximately the last fifteen years, and also makes baskets and regalia. She is also active in supporting the shashishalhem language...

kwayimin Andy Johnson – Weaver, Cultural Ambassador for shishalh Nation Andy was born and raised on the Sunshine Coast. He was with his grandmother Cecil August a lot growing up, and this is where he learned a lot of the shashishalhem history and culture. He is a...

Film NightsThe Road Forward, a musical documentary by Marie Clements was shown in March 2019. This film connects a pivotal moment in Canada’s civil rights history—the beginnings of Indian Nationalism in the 1930s—with the powerful momentum of First Nations activism...

Honouring Survivors Feast and Healing Ceremony A healing ceremony was held for survivors on November 14, 2019.  The traditional healing blanket, created by tetalus Audrey Joe, was presented to the community. Healer Eugene Harry wore the healing blanket as shared a...

"Becoming Syiyaya: The Growth of a Grassroots Reconciliation Movement""Becoming Syiyaya: The Growth of a Grassroots Reconciliation Movement"

The Pole DesignThis 30 foot Reconciliation Totem Pole is set on a base that is a carving of the original St Augustine’s Residential School in Sechelt.  Above this are two children, facing one another on their knees, with hands clasping rosaries in prayer, and tears...

Sashes by kwayimin Andy Johnson These two speaker style sashes have the traditional Coast Salish colours – black, red and white. Black represents the water, the red represents skalmixw – us as First Nations people – and it also represents medicine and healing, and the...