Whistler BC - Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre

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The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler BC

The Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation have coexisted respectfully as neighbors since time immemorial. They thrived on the bounty of the ocean, the rivers, and the land, living in close relationship with the world around them. Their cultures are grounded in rich, ancient traditions, & continue to grow and evolve in a modern world. The Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) was built to preserve these cultures & share them with others.

The idea of a world-class center was born in 1997. The historic Protocol Agreement between the two nations was signed in 2001 & is the only agreement of its kind in Canada. The center, built on the north side of the property in order to leave the forested area mostly untouched, includes a modern interpretation of a Squamish longhouse & a Lil’wat Istken (traditional earthen pit house).
For more info on the Squamish Nation & Lil’wat Nation, please check their web sites at www.squamish.net and www.lilwat.ca

Other informative & interesting links:

Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre
http://slcc.ca/experience/cultural-journey/

http://slcc.ca/learn/faqs-and-factoids/

https://www.aboriginalbc.com/members/squamish-lilwat-cultural-centre

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Photos

The center was selected as the 2012 Cultural Centre of the Year by Aboriginal Tourism B.C

in swapped RGB channels.

Great Hall
in swapped RGB channels

Back patio, set up for a wedding
The center is popular for weddings & anyone can book a wedding there. More info:
http://slcc.ca/the-venue/weddings/
http://slcc.ca/the-venue/image-gallery/

Longhouse in the background
The longhouse, a traditional dwelling of the Squamish people (Coast Salish), was made by the whole village entirely from cedar - large cedar posts were used as the main pillars & cedar planks were tied together by rope made from the inner cedar bark. Many traditional ceremonies & gatherings take place in the longhouse. The longhouse was also used as a seasonal dwelling by moving the cedar planks from the longhouse to travel up and down the coast. More info: http://slcc.ca/video-of-the-week-squamish-longhouse/

Pithouse in the background
An Istken is a traditional underground pit house once used by the Lil’wat people. Because it is built into the earth, a more constant temperature is maintained so that it's warm in winter & cool in summer.

INSIDE THE GREAT HALL
The main doors

Recovered/restored totem pole
carved by Squamish Chief Mathias Joe. The pole was abandoned and left standing on a property in West Vancouver. Squamish Chief Mathias Joe carved the pole about 80 years ago as a commission from the previous holders of the land. Chief Mathias died in 1967 at the age of 91. Other poles by Chief Mathias stand in North Vancouver, in Edmonton at the Royal Alberta Museum, and in Texas.

Comments

[Ben H]

What a wonderful centre to learn about BC's rich First Nations heritage.
If I get to Whistler, I have to visit this place. Thanks for sharing.

[ferby]

Thank you for bringing this to our attention !
Like most people, I imagine, I'd never heard of this until now. It's such a pleasure to see how some of our First Nations tribes cooperate to make the rest of the world aware of the beauty and meaning of their ancestral culture. You've done a great job with your camera, as always. Thank you for a most interesting and illuminating blog.