The canoe is an important cultural symbol for many Indigenous people, representing so much more than transportation. It is about identity, community, and for many coastal nations, a shared connection to the land and water. The canoe has a long history of cultural traditions that build and honour relations across generations and nations.
Building awareness for why those traditions matter — and how they play a role in protecting and preserving health and wellness within Indigenous communities — is why we are honoured to support the crafting of a 36-foot traditional xԝməӨkԝəy’əm Musqueam Cedar Salish Sea-Going Canoe by Artist and Carver Jody Sparrow, one of only a few of its kind in 100 years.
This project creates a platform where Indigenous and non-Indigenous people can share space, knowledge, and center the building of relationships and accountability. We all live in this shared society — it’s time we learn exactly what that means for everyone.
Sharing Indigenous Expertise and Tradition
Lead Educator and Facilitator, Michael Glendale ‘Gya’us’dees (GUY-use-deez)’ of the Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) Indigenous-Specific Anti-Racism (ISAR) team, and Dr Titus Wong, Medical Director for Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) and Community Health at BCCDC, conceived of this project after meeting with Jody Sparrow, a xԝməӨkԝəy’əm (Musqueam) and Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Carver, Artist, and ticketed professional Carpenter. They recognized an opportunity to embrace the art of carving, and to use this art as a way to build relationships across communities.
The vision begins with crafting a 36-foot traditional xԝməӨkԝəy’əm Musqueam Cedar Salish Sea-Going Canoe. The canoe holds significance for many Indigenous people as a lasting symbol of resilience and culture. This project is also a learning journey, creating opportunities to work together as settlers and Indigenous community members, side-by-side. Like paddling a canoe together in harmony and with true collaboration, we can only move forward toward a new world view when we are paddling in sync, with intention and commitment.
Building and Paddling Together
This project provides an opportunity for participants to immerse themselves in an experience of traditional Indigenous culture and ways of knowing. The Foundation is committed to this learning in support of our shared commitment to Truth and Reconciliation and the UN’s Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). This includes recognition of the importance of financial reconciliation and relationship building with Indigenous host nations, while supporting cultural revitalization, experiential learning, and respectful collaboration between Indigenous and settler community partners.
This work begins with engaging non-Indigenous community partners who have demonstrated an interest in becoming active allies in honouring, respecting, and celebrating Indigenous Peoples, culture, and contributions. The Foundation was honoured to be asked to participate, as we are guided by a commitment to fund innovative initiatives and pilot projects centered on health protection, promotion, and prevention — the three pillars of public health. This project is a living example of work that encompasses all three of these aims, tied together through activating allyship. Culture and access to land are gateways to connecting to traditional ways of being. This project by itself is wellness for Indigenous Peoples. Colonization works to minimize and limit access to lands, natural resources, and traditional ways of being. This project counters this historical narrative by offering an opportunity for Indigenous people, partners, and allies, to connect with culture both inside our networks, and in Indigenous community.
Grounding our Work in Why it Matters
This work is guided by teachings gifted to PHSA by Coast Salish Knowledge Keeper Siem Te’ta-in (Shane Pointe), which offer guidance on how we may do our best as human beings and show up in relation to one another.
Whax hooks in shqwalowin “Open your hearts and minds to what is being taught to you. When you are open you are able to do your best”.
This is a true opportunity for us to learn from traditional Indigenous knowledge around important issues like building relations and connecting to nature, protecting and preserving our environment, wholistic mind-body-soul wellness, intergenerational strength and learning, and building community health and resilience.
To truly support reconnection with Indigenous ways of knowing across the land, water, and all living things, this initiative provides a way to celebrate culture, while also transforming ideas about how values and traditions are represented in our actions. For those of us who have benefitted from the historical harms committed towards Indigenous Peoples, this project is our opportunity to activate ongoing change and ownership for the work of reconciliation
Carving the Canoe
When this project begins, partners and interest holders will be invited to take part in carving the canoe, including time in the workspace and on the land with Jody Sparrow, the Artist. The ISAR team, led by Michael Glendale, is planning opportunities for on-site workshops and educational sessions for participants, to introduce and build awareness for Indigenous experiences and the historical actions of colonialism that continue to have impacts on Indigenous people’s health and wellness.
How does a community become sick? How can connection to Indigenous ways of being help to reclaim what’s been lost to the systems? What exactly are some of the reasons and contributing factors? Through this work, we can gain a better understanding of why, and how, Indigenous communities across the country are living in their current conditions. Together, we can help people achieve better health and well-being, grounded in equitable and culturally-safe practices.
The canoe will remain a Musqueam community asset, accessible to First Nations members and youth. It will have a living presence, promoting time on the land and water as a way to reconnect and allow community members to continue to pass down knowledge and culture to future generations.It may, by invitation, remain accessible to the wider community so that learnings and relations will continue to evolve and grow.
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Donate to support the building of the xԝməӨkԝəy’əm Musqueam Salish Sea-Going Canoe — carved from Cedar timber thoughtfully sourced from the Laxyuubm Ts’msyen (Tsimshian) nation — and to provide engagement opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities to come together in learning and reconciliation.
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