Now available: Guided outdoor tours. Despite challenges, new discoveries point to a hopeful future for transformer preservation. The BC Alliance for Arts + Culture, in collaboration with committed individuals from the David Suzuki Foundation, the Vancouver Park Board, The Only Animal, Story Money Impact, and Stó:lō Nation artist Lolehawk will create these events modeled around collective ideation. S'olh Temexw is the traditional territory of the Stó:lō people. Favoriten Add to cart Framed Art Card-Bear and Cub in Den - Clarence Mills 35.00 Excl. ", © Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery Inc / Powered by Shopify. The Stó:lō Ethnohistory Field School began in 1997 as a collaboration between research staff at the Stó:lō Nation office and the History Department at the University of Victoria. The owner is Stó:lō from Tzeachten First Nation. Stó:Lō Aboriginal Skills & Employment Training Bldg #5A-7201 Vedder Road Chilliwack, BC V2R 4G5. Stó:lō First Nations veterans: Why were they not recognized until 1993 and the … The Stó:lō Service Agency (SSA) is the service delivery arm of Stó:lō Nation. Discover Stó:lō culture and traditions at the Interpretive Centre. Shop for the perfect one-of-a-kind gift all under the same roof. He thinks that in order to preserve transformer sites, there needs to be a radical change in British Columbians' understanding of the land. Carlson, a member of the Stó:lō Nation staff at the time, had obtained support from Stó:lō leadership to … McHalsie captures a photo of The:xelis before diving into the site’s history. The Stó:lō Gift Shop is located at Stó:lō Nation, 7201 Vedder Rd. activities in the Stó:lō Head St art Family Program, and participated in several co mmuni ty events such as a ceremony to honour the babies within the Stó :lô communi ty. I have made it my life’s work to create art that echoes the past of the First Nations folk of British Columbia. Runn ing It has state of the art language, archive and artifact facilities to preserve and maintain Stó:lō cultural heritage, lands and resource based information. I can create a custom made twelve sided Stó:lō style drum specifically for you. Sonny: Th'exlis, "gritting his teeth", also known as the scratch marks, is where Xexa:ls, the Transformer(s) sat, when he dueled with Xeylxelamos the bad Indian Doctor. The Sto:lo Nation Chiefs Council is a First Nations Tribal Council in the Fraser Valley region of the Canadian province of British Columbia that is the tribal council for First Nations band governments in the area of Chilliwack, Abbotsford and at Nicomen Island. Barriers between Stó:lō, ancestral landmarks. Alicia has experimented with different forms and traditions, and especially loves to work in the traditional Coast Salish style. We are fully open for visitors! CULTURAL GUIDED GROUNDS AND ROAD TOURS . Now known as Lady Franklin Rock, this Fraser River landmark holds the spirit of misbehaving Sto:lo ancestor Xéylxelamós. Created from the following materials, all of which are from Canada: Yellow cedar wood frame, Deer hide, Native tanned moose hide, Black bear fur, Small bird wing bones, Quail wishbone, Caribou sinew, Canadian goose feathers, Blue jay tip feathers, Polished deer hooves, Antique trade beads, Handmade shell beads, Glass beads, Brass tacks and Paint. To keep you safe, we have implemented WorkSafeBC COVID-19 safety protocols. This exclusion will be mentioned in the product description. This year, he already has more than 10 tours lined up. Th'exelis itself was nearly buried during highway development. Framed Art Card- Longhouse- Danny Dennis 35.00 Excl. SSA provides services to the Stó:lō and Aboriginal communities throughout S'olh Temexw. I have a Master of Arts from the Department of Art History and Communication Studies at McGill University where my research was funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (2020) and a Bachelor of Arts in Art, Performance and Cinema Studies from the School of Contemporary Arts at Simon Fraser University (2018). Naxaxalhts'i, also known as Sonny McHalsie, stands precariously close to the edge of a cliff. See Plate 26 in Keith Thor Carlson, ed. The tour was fully booked. Her mother was Sto:lo and her father Nlaka'pamux from the Lytton area. But bringing the younger generation out to learn the stories of their history can pose a challenge. Favoriten Add to cart Framed & Matted Art Card - Circle of Life by Jean Taylor 35.00 Excl. The Stó:lō Ethnohistory Field School began in 1997 as a collaboration between research staff at the Stó:lō Nation office and the History Department at the University of Victoria. Sq'ewá:lxw First Nation, Agassiz, British Columbia. Keith Thor Carlson, a professor of history at the University of Saskatchewan, has spent years studying Stó:lō culture. McHalsie started touring the land with elders to learn their stories over 30 years ago. He's capturing an iPhone panorama to share with his Facebook friends. Schools have to contend with strict field trip regulations and low budgets within the public school system. "We're going to have that information for our members and future generations," she says. Alicia was inspired to create these twin sturgeons after talking to her sister, Jennifer Pennier, about their Stó:lō heritage. Back at Th'exelis, McHalsie lights up when mentioning a transformer story he heard about "only just yesterday.". The SRC houses the Stó:lō peoples cultural heritage and knowledge. View our blog for more information. (Holly McKenzie-Sutter). Since 1985, McHalsie's services have been booked by Stó:lō bands, school groups and interested community members. Recently, he led a first ever place-name tour for members of Leq'á:mel First Nation. Just a few generations ago, dozens of people spoke the nation’s language of Upriver Halkomelem. Woolard, Heather. Explore the land, history & art of the Stó:lō People. "I'm really happy people are making that connection to our land. CONTACT US. (Holly McKenzie-Sutter). But not everyone knows its history, and without a master storyteller like McHalsie to share Stó:lō's traditional stories, these transformer sites could be lost. The scratch marks left by Xa:ls are visible in the stone below McHalsie's feet. If you are interested in purchasing this, or any of Mayo’s art, please contact me, Height 25” (including embellishments) But Giesbrecht is proud her work is playing a part in the ongoing effort to compile the lost stories of her people. Phone: (604) 858-3691 Fax: 604-858-3528 An elder from Yale First Nation had to bring in an excavator to recover the site, McHalsie says. We have been in business since 2002 and our main clients are the First Nation Communities within S’ólh Téméxw. This collaboration with Stó:lō Nation tells the story of Stone T’xwelatse and his return home after 100 years. The Stó:lō people are named in their language after the Fraser River, which is the community’s lifeblood and flows through their picturesque territory southeast of Vancouver, B.C. One of the Eleven Communities of Sto:lo Nation The first historically documented reference to these people as "the Stó:lō" occurs in Catholic Obl… Rod Peters, aboriginal education co-ordinator at School District 78 in Hope, B.C., recalls a trip that took students from Hope Secondary School to Greenwood Island, an important place name holder. Chilliwack, on the Coqualeetza grounds. And the transformer stories, Peters says, are seldom taught in schools. The exhibition focuses on two eras of transformation. “Reconciliation” is an aspirational concept expressing the hope that Xwélmexw (Indigenous people) and XwelÍtem (non-Indigenous settler Canadians) can find a way … 04/14/2020 . Th'exelis itself was nearly buried during highway development. Favoriten Add to cart Framed And Matted Art Card- Raven -Tobacco Garnet 35.00 Excl. "What they see is economic landscapes, then they create new myths like the frontier myth.". The Stó:lō /ˈstɔːloʊ/, alternately written as Sto:lo, Stó:lô, or Stó:lõ and historically, as Staulo or Stahlo, and historically known and commonly referred to in ethnographic literature as the Fraser River Indians or Lower Fraser Salish, are a group of First Nations peoples inhabiting the Fraser Valley and lower Fraser Canyon of British Columbia, Canada. David M. Schaepe, Project Lead – Director & Senior Archaeologist, Stó:lō Research and Resource Management Centre, Stó:lō Nation; Natasha Lyons, Project Manager – Director & Senior Archaeologist, Ursus Heritage Consulting; Kate Hennessy, Media Lead – Assistant Professor, School of Interactive Arts and Technology, Simon Fraser University The gift shop also carries beadwork, carving, prints and silver jewelry on consignment. McHalsie is encouraged by such discoveries, saying they are "an example of communities recognizing the importance of sxwōxwiyám," the Stó:lō origin stories. And Th'exelis' story is one of Sonny McHalsie's favourites to tell. The Stó:lō are the river people. It provides the Stó:lō and their neighbours with access to resources. She is a distinguished educator, scholar, mentor, visionary, cultural advisor, and leader. Chilliwack – The City of Chilliwack announces a public art partnership with Stó:lō Nation for the Vedder Road Roundabout Art Project to celebrate the history of the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and Stó:lō Nation. The entire project was guided by a steering committee of Stó:lō educators, mothers, and cultural experts. McHalsie spends up to nine hours on a bus telling stories and pointing out the Halq'emeylem names behind landmarks. These sites contain living spirits, or Shxweli, and stand as cautionary tales from their ancestors. For a short time, Sharron worked in Stó:lō Nation’s Halq’eméylem and Taxation departments; however, for the past decade, Sharron has furthered her career in her community of Sq'ewá:lxw First Nation. The City’s budget for the project is $180,000, which is included in the overall budget for the Vedder Bridge Replacement Project.This will be placed in the new Vedder Roundabout. These sites contain living spirits, or, Barriers between Stó:lō, ancestral landmarks, McHalsie is encouraged by such discoveries, saying they are "an example of communities recognizing the importance of, Spirits of the West Coast Art Gallery Inc. Rena Point Bolton is a hereditary carrier for the Wolf people. Carlson, a member of the Stó:lō Nation staff at the time, had obtained support from Stó:lō leadership to … There are potential legal benefits to the discovery, such as protecting the land from interested developers. *Free shipping to Canada and the Continental USA, excluding items that are too large or bulky for regular shipping. "That field trip cost was over a thousand dollars, but well worth it for those students," Peters says. It is one of more than 100 sites where Stó:lō people believe their ancestors were transformed to stone. Shop in-person from 9:30 AM until 4:30 PM on weekdays or online anytime for local, one-of-a-kind, authentic Indigenous and Indigenous-inspired arts, crafts, paintings, prints, glassware, cards. I have a variety of sizes and many drum face images for you to choose from. Alicia was interested in art from a young age. "If you'd go to France and the area surrounding Lourdes and say, 'I am going to destroy this to make room for a Trump hotel,' you would have people up in arms," says Carlson. There is always something new at Stó:lō Gift Shop, located at Stó:lō Nation on the Coqualeetza grounds. Xa:ls transformed him into a stone in the middle of the Fraser River. Stó:lō is the Halqemeylem word for "river". Th'exelis is a breathtaking scene. McHalsie has dedicated his career as a cultural leader and historian to collecting and sharing transformer stories — all in hopes of protecting his people's sacred sites that are under constant threat. tax It is one of more than 100 sites where Stó:lō people believe their ancestors were transformed to stone. Pendants in Silver, Gold, Argillite and Wood, Stó:lō ancestors' Spirits Live in Fraser Valley Landmarks, This is Th'exelis. Created from the following materials, all of which are from Canada: Yellow cedar wood frame, Deer hide, Native tanned moose hide, Black bear fur, Small bird wing bones, Quail wishbone, Caribou sinew, Canadian goose feathers, Blue jay tip feathers, Polished deer hooves, Antique trade beads, Handmade shell beads, Glass beads, Brass tacks and Paint. Authentic, Indigenous Gift Shop & Interpretive Centre, located in Chilliwack, BC. In 1999, a Stó:lō transformer site known as Mome'tes made local headlines when it was blown up by CN Rail. Depth 3” McHalsie recreates the transformer Xa:ls’ hand placement as he dug his nails into the rock at Th’exelis (“gritting his teeth”). A Stó:lō Coast Salish Historical Atlas (Douglas and Macintyre and University of Washington Press, 2004). McHalsie, for one, has made it his life's mission to share these stories with a wider audience. Sharron Young has always strived to work with First Nations people, which directed her degree and studies at UBC. tax. Other items include Coqualeetza publications, story books and Stó:lō curriculum materials. Email: stolo.tourism@stolonation.bc.ca for more information CALL: 604-824-3211 FOR INFORMATION: 7201 Vedder Road, Chilliwack BC (access from Wells Rd or Storey Ave) Stó:lō Style First Nations Drum. This site, provided by the Chawatil First Nation, was where one of the boys had been last seen. Writing sometime between 1947 and 1973, the author retold the story of a woman transformed into a mountain. 807 likes. With a limited budget for field trips, these experiences are rare. This is Th'exelis. But not everyone knows its history, and without a master storyteller like McHalsie to share Stó:lō's traditional stories, these transformer sites could be lost. The story and Terry's creative process are featured in the film, Kidnapped Stó:lō Boys by Sandra Bonner-Pederson of the Tzeachten First Nation. She studied fine arts at Langara College. Th'exelis is a breathtaking scene. "We need to somehow recognize the legitimacy of the human concern over sites that are regarded as spiritual human ancestors transformed in some metaphysical way beyond what a scientist can measure.". Those experiences turned into "Bad Rock Tours," the name under which he offers an immersive drive through Stó:lō territory. Drumstick overall length 18.5” | SOLD, Battle of The Orca & Thunderbird | Peregrine Falcon Emerge from The Void | Self Portrait Bust | Jonah and the Great Whale | Angel of the Lord | Ball Python Twins | Two Headed Bird | Back Flip Orca | Tree Frog | Stylized Angel Fish | Enoplosus Armatus | Baby Orca | Surfing Seal | Jonah and the Great Fish | The Raven | Boy who became an Eagle | Brujo and His Ally | Peace Pipe | Stó:lō Style First Nations Drum | Nebula | The Kiss | We Are All in This Together | I Can’t Hear You  | Salmon | The Traveler | Battle of the North and South Winds | Applause, Home      Bio     Galleries     The Process     Books     Art Events     Press     Testimonials    Contact, © 2021 Tony Mayo | site by Leanne Campbell, Fraser Valley Freelance Artist & Sculptor. This tribal council should not be confused with the Stó:lō Tribal Council, which is composed of different bands of the Stó:lō people. Giesbrecht says she isn't sure about next steps in this development. Stó:lō Nation and the dance troupe Semoya made works about the distant past when supernatural beings turned people into … "I find more and more today that the younger people are talking more about it," McHalsie says. Width 14” Coqualeetza operates a sales outlet providing First Nation arts and crafts focussed on Stó:lō artists and craftspeople. Here, the transformer Xa:ls did battle with Xéylxelamós, a medicine man who used his powers selfishly. In fact, some of them have been. When she told McHalsie about this discovery, he identified it as a transformer story about Nicomen Mountain, a landmark just a few minutes down the road from the Leq'á:mel First Nation band office. At the time that Rena Point Bolton was born, the potlatch was outlawed. Stó:lō Nation site tour book. Many Sto:lo communities and their governments are not in either tribal council. Preparations for their next band-specific tour in May are already underway. tax. Bad Rock* Tours Narrated Place Names Tours Of S’ólh Témèxw “Our Land/World” By Naxaxalhts’i, Albert “Sonny” McHalsie The Upriver Tour The Downriver Tour The Chilliwack River Valley Tour Coqualeetza Grounds Tour * “Bad Rock” is an early historical reference to The Gift Shop carries a large selection of local, one-of-a-kind authentic Aboriginal arts, crafts, giftware and products from across BC. 1998. The Stó:lō Nation is the political amalgamation of eleven Stó:lō communities. Almost two years ago, Alicia Giesbrecht, a researcher at Leq'á:mel First Nation, came across a journal entry from a Nicomen Island woman. "I can't say I've ever discovered one before," she says. Economic priority has cost the Stó:lō people irreplaceable landmarks. The embellishments will vary depending upon what I have available, but I can assure you, they will be equally exotic materials. The trip was guided by McHalsie. At various points in her career, Shoysqwelwhet has taught at the elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels, and held positions in leadership and administration with the Stó:lō Nation and the provincial government. Stó:lō Tours, Events, Gifts & Accommodations (4) Operating as usual. The Vedder Road Roundabout Art Project was a public art partnership between the City of Chilliwack and the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe with the support from Stó:lō Nation to celebrate the history of the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and Stó:lō Nation in the spirit of reconciliation and remembrance. Stó:lō Gift Shop & Interpretive Centre. But in the last decade, almost all fluent speakers have died. (Holly McKenzie-Sutter), "When settler colonists come to North America, they left all their sacred sites behind," says Carlson. Although Archaeologists place the arrival of the Stó:lō circa 4-10,000 years ago, the Stó:lō themselves believe that they have been here “for time immemorial.” According to Creation Stories, the Sto:lo are descended from the Sky people and the Earth people, and were given their territory, or “ Solh Temexw” , by the Great Creator. tax.