GREAT SPACES: THE SQUAMISH LIL'WAT CULTURAL CENTRE

Exterior of the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.

Among the trendy condos and hotel resorts at Whistler village is a cedar and glass complex built into a landscaped hillside, housing the cultural and historical treasures of two First Nations groups, the Squamish and the Lil’wat. “The two nations have overlapping territory in the Whistler area, and there were on-going disputes,” says operations coordinator Josh Anderson. “In the end, we decided to build a centre together.” He adds that combining two First Nations groups under one roof is a unique concept.

Begun in 2001 and opened two years ago, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s activities picked up speed when the Olympics came to town this year — they represent two of the four host First Nations in the area, so there were cultural events on throughout the Olympics.

The Centre was designed by Vancouver architect Alfred Waugh, with a focus on natural and sustainable materials. Visitors are greeted by two carved welcoming figures before entering through large cedar doors. Natural light streams through the windowed Great Hall, designed in the form of a traditional Squamish Longhouse and decorated with massive models of hand-carved cedar spindle whorls, a celebration of the Sqamish weaving heritage. The hall is filled with cultural artifacts, including authentic dugout canoes, and wool and cedar weavings.

The neighbouring Istken Hall is designed to evoke the traditional underground dwellings of the Lil’wat people, a circular space with a dramatic backdrop of forest and mountain scenery, and a living roof. The space hosts artists’ workshops — carving, weaving, drum-making — temporary exhibitions, and activities for the Centre’s artist-in-residence program. A recent exhibition included a canoe carved in 1975 by Charlie Mack Seymour, a revered Lil’wat cultural leader and teacher, and a youth photography exhibition displayed images on the theme of biodiversity. Display pieces are all described in English, and the Squamish and Lil’wat languages. “The Centre plays a key role in our cultural revitalization,” Anderson says. “We’re teaching future generations how we’ve lived.”