New exhibition at SLCC from December 21st to May 21st
The team behind the new exhibition Unceded at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center (SLCC) struggles to pick one standout image from an epic months-long photo shoot.
Still, it’s hard to imagine that the helicopter trip up to Black Tusk with dancers and drummers in full regalia shot at Alpine sunset wasn’t particularly memorable.
Photographer Logan Swayze said in an email: “Of course, shooting Black Tusk was incredible. I got to see the performance team dancing, singing, and flying out of the helicopter with the doors open to capture the beautiful sunset. .”
But it also made sense to shoot in downtown Vancouver at dusk, when the Vancouver Police Department was directing traffic. Or spend time with Nstinemqen William Ritchie early in the morning at Nicklaus North Golf Course and hear him talk about the land in his youth.
“All the sessions were fun and it was such an honor to photograph them.
Stunning photography may be at least part of the point of any photo exhibition, but in this case, the purpose of the project was more.
“Really, the whole idea was to highlight Lil’wat and the Squamish Nations’ view of the land and its connections,” says Alison Pascal of Mixalhítsa7. Squamish Nation.
“The whole title of ‘Unceded’, in my experience, can be misleading about how we are connected to the land. We don’t think we own the land by saying, “This is my property, this is my property.” In our worldview, we are part of the land and the land is part of us. ”
Pascal and Nahanie did research, worked with elders, and consulted with other members of the community to select key photo locations.
“I think it’s really beautiful,” adds Pascal. “To be honest, this project could have gone on and on, and we could have added people and places. I thought it would be ”
A total of 19 photos will be featured in the show, which runs from December 21st to May 21st. The idea took him six months to create as SLCC raised money to help make it happen. Filmed for several months.
“We hope that people traveling through Sea to Sky will come to the gallery to recognize some of these spots and imagine going back 3,000 years to see them. [Lil’wat and Squamish people on the land]said Heather Paul, Executive Director of SLCC.
As for his role behind the lens, Swayze says he hopes he’s done his subject justice.
“I spoke to everyone I was photographing and asked them why they agreed to be part of this project, why that particular land, what the project meant to them and what they wanted to show. ‘ he says. Email. “The overriding theme I was told was, ‘We are still here.’ Many of them were going through very dark times, but “they are still here.” I hope the image expresses that because I feel it is so important. ”
For more information on UNCEDED: S7ULH TEMÍXW/TI TMICWKÁLHA/OUR LAND – A Photographic Journey into Belonging, please visit slcc.ca/pr-unceded-exhibition.