A Coast Salish weaving created by Qwenot Angela George from the Tsleil-Waututh and Sts’ailes Nations captures the learning journey, as well as the stories of both the Burnaby School District and the land on which it resides.
The Master Weaver began the work with a series of online engagement sessions with students and staff during the pandemic. The students mailed her stacks of papers, sharing their ideas that helped to inform the story and design of the weave.
At an unveiling ceremony in the fall, Qwenot shared how Coast Salish weavings hold knowledge. She said weavers uphold the responsibility to tell the stories that come through the weaving:
This weaving holds teachings and talks about the values of the school district, the heart that comes through in the work that you do and that happens in all of the schools. And it also tells the story of this land, going way back generations and generations ago before contact when this land was untouched.”
The ceremony was held to celebrate the artist and officially transfer the artwork into the District’s care. Following local protocol, it was led by Elder Alroy Baker alongside community members of the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
The final piece is layered with many meanings. For example, Qwenot shared that the significance of the number four is woven throughout: it represents the four corners of our world, the four elements, the four directions, and the four laws of the Coast Salish people. She explained her intention as she wove the colours of the four laws throughout the piece, itself.
The black represents the Law of Truth. The blue represents the Law of Family. The red represents our Laws of Colour and Spirituality, and the yellow represents our Laws of Health and Wellness. The laws are held in there with the Laws of the Land, and when we weave these together with the education system, we become that much richer. And so, the wealth of the land is brought here into this home to share with one and all.”
Qwenot also described the representation behind the shapes that are empty and then become full. These signify the learning journey. The dotted blue line denotes when you’re first learning something; there’s a space between it as you relate it to what you know and make connections. The second one is when you start to solidify it. Then you’re internalizing it. And lastly, it becomes a part of who you are and part of your truth; that’s the blue shape with the black outline – with the black colour signifying the Law of Truth.
Qwenot shared that systems of knowing need to be sustained for the health of a community, and that by weaving teachings into the design, the knowledge can go on for generations to come.
The Coast Salish weave is hung in a place of prominence at the District Administration Office. Along with a welcome post by Squamish National Master Carver Xwalacktun, together they serve as powerful symbols that the District acknowledges the Coast Salish land on which it stands and welcomes all who come to our schools and workplaces.
Learn more about Indigenous Education in the Burnaby School District here.
Posted December 2023