Sacred Journey

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Science World, "Sacred Journey," 2022

Sacred Journey will take visitors on a voyage to experience the resurgence of Northwest Coast canoe cultures. Nearly lost as a result of colonization, Sacred Journey tells the powerful story of a People reclaiming traditions and ways of life—particularly through the annual Tribal Canoe Journeys taken to revitalize cultures, heal communities, and empower the next generation. This exhibition, produced by the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, SeeQuest Development and Greencoast Media, presented by Vancity and supported by Amazon Canada, will be on display at Science World until February 20, 2023. 

For thousands of years, the traditional ocean-going canoe (“glwa” in Heiltsuk) was the main means of transportation for Indigenous Peoples in the Pacific Northwest. It was essential for sustenance, transportation, and for developing unique social and ceremonial life for the First Nations Peoples. Told by Indigenous leaders and participants of today’s canoe resurgence for the first time, Sacred Journey unveils this incredible story through the Indigenous framework of “nuyum” (traditional narratives) expressed through figurative art, immersive audio and extensive interactive video projections and displays of those who have participated in a Tribal Canoe Journey.

“Amongst the Heiltsuk Nation and other Indigenous Peoples, the last 150 years have seen massive societal changes that have had devastating and detrimental impacts on our People. During this time of suppression and technology change, the ocean-going canoe, the Glwa, was almost lost. Sacred Journey allows us to share the knowledge and experience of this journey from an Indigenous point of view,’” said λáλíyasila, Hereditary Chief Frank Brown, Heiltsuk Nation. “Tribal Journeys have become an important teacher and cornerstone for awakening our cultures and languages. This exhibition is a chance for the public to immerse themselves and go on a canoe journey they otherwise wouldn’t get to experience.”

Embark on this journey into the history and culture of Indigenous Marine place-based peoples who have lived along these waters for millennia. In this exhibit, visitors will experience stunning art pieces including: 

●      A monumental canvas canoe with four prominent Heiltsuk clan crests in striking colours painted by Heiltsuk artist KC Hall. 

●      Two other Heiltsuk artists designed pieces for this exhibition, Chazz Mack and Ian Reid. Mack designed overarching house posts and paddles to accompany the canoe, while Reid carved an eagle-human mask, located at the entrance to the exhibit. 

●      Renowned Heiltsuk/Tsimshian artist Roy Henry Vickers created a moon and salmon logo for the exhibit and a "Many hands” canoe image. 

●      The interactive audio and video elements of the show were produced by Greencoast Media. 

Bákvḷá photo exhibition 

In the Science World atrium during the Sacred Journey exhibition, there will be a photoseries on Bákvḷá, a Heiltsuk word that loosely translates as “gathering and harvesting food for winter.” This series is interpreted by Margaret Brown, a residential school survivor and one of the few remaining fluent Heiltsuk-language speakers in the world. Bákvḷá is co-produced by the Heiltsuk Nation and co-curated by Frank Brown, Ayla Brown, and Vina Brown, Heiltsuk Nation; and William Knight, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum. It will be accompanied by a 20-foot long by 18 inches wide dugout canoe carved by Canoe Cultures Society. 

“Heiltsuk like other first peoples' have lived and died near and on the ocean for millennia, the Sacred Journey and Bákvḷá exhibition share from the first person perspective insights into ancient Pacific Ocean Peoples history and culture. It shares an important message of resiliency and sustainability for current and future generations,” λáλíyasila, Heiltsuk Hereditary Chief, Frank Brown. 

About Heilstuk Nation

The Heiltsuk are an ancient seafaring People with over 14 thousand years of continuous use and occupancy of their territorial waters along the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America and are leaders in the resurgence of ocean going canoes and culture. They are an amalgamation of five tribes located on the Central Coast, or what is now referred to as the Great Bear Rainforest, like many other Coastal First Nations they find their sustenance, laws, governance, stewardship commitments and livelihood from the ocean.