These sculptures were created as part of the opening of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. The art is symbolic of this unique facility, in that the two First Nations are present together, as partners. The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, where mountains, rivers and people meet, embodies the spirit of partnership between the two Nations and the shared values around preserving and sharing their traditional cultures.

In the case of the art, the south post is carved in the style of the Squamish people by Ray Natraoro.

The Lil’wat post is in the north position and was carved by Lil’wat artists Johnnie Abraham and Jonathan Joe.

The entrance and the axis of the building align with the celestial points of the compass, as is traditional in First Nations cultures.

This sculpture is part of the art collection commissioned by the Vancouver Organizing Committee of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC). The collection is a celebration of aboriginal art and has become a beautiful legacy of the 2010 Winter Games.

Public art nearby:

• 144 The Welcome Arch at Club Intrawest, just east across Blackcomb Way
• 145 Celestri at the south entry to the Four Seasons Resort