Honouring the Salish Weave: Indigenous Education Artists-in-Residence Program

sx岬浭非漻岬浭穉?asel蓹 | Nest of the Thunderbird; q史菨nat | Angela Paul (2017); Materials: sheep wool, dye | Coast Salish: BC, Canada; This replica of an old Coast Salish Chief's robe translates to "Nest of the Thunderbird." The designs feature ancient trails the original people of this land travelled to gather medicines and strengths up the local mountains. The magnificent thunderbirds held ancient wisdom that nested in the highest part of the mountains. This robe was woven to protect and cover the wearer in the strengths, the gifts, of the Thunderbird.

Honouring the Salish Weave: Indigenous Education Artists-in-Residence Program

The Faculty of Education is honoured to host master weaver, q史蓹nat Angela Paul, and woodcarver, as inaugural Artists in Residence. Splash, who hails from S岣祑x瘫w煤7mesh, is creating traditional weaving tools and looms representing a transfer of ancestral knowledge. Angela, whose late mother is from S岣祑xw煤7mesh and late father is from Sts鈥檃iles, will be utilizing the loom and tools to create a new weaving as part of the program.

The work of our artists-in-residence combines tradition and innovation. Through this program, they share valuable insights into Indigenous arts practices with students, educators, and beyond.

Supported by George and Christiane Smyth鈥檚 Salish Weave Fund at the Victoria Foundation, this initiative emphasizes reciprocity, relationship building, and cultural preservation. The Salish Weave Circle that represents the Smyths鈥� fund, celebrates Coast Salish artistry and the interconnectedness of all participants -- bridging past, present, and future in a shared learning experience.

Project Funders:

We are grateful to the following donors for their ongoing support:

George and Christiane Smyth through their Salish Weave Fund held at the Victoria Foundation
Ministry of Education
丁香园AV Faculty of Education
Faculty of Education Dean鈥檚 Office

On This Page 鈫�

About the Artists
Schedule
Resources

About the Artists

Q史茝NAT ~ ANGELA PAUL

Angela Paul carries the ancestral name, q史蓹nat. Angela鈥檚 late mother is from S岣祑xw煤7mesh and her late father is from Sts鈥檃iles. Angela is a proud mother and grandmother and Salish weaver, who is heavily engaged in the local community and larger Coast Salish community on many levels.

Following 12 years as Community Development Director at Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Angela is now the Executive Director for the 脡yameth鈥� Health Care Centre, a First Nations-led Primary Health Care Clinic in the Fraser Valley, British Columbia. She has an extensive background in First Nations social and community development, cultural revival, education and health planning, program development and implementation.

This Coast Salish weaver continues to dedicate her career to the betterment of First Nations people and communities. Traditionally groomed, she has a strong understanding of her culture and spiritual teachings and the impacts of colonization and barriers that plague First Nations communities. She has a strong passion for traditional canoe racing, weaving and cultural singing and dancing and believes that reviving and practicing traditions and having a strong sense of identity and connection to our ancestors is vital to community wellness, development, and sustainability.

Angela is passionately working through her weaving practice. She is working on her PhD in Arts Education and has completed her MBA in Indigenous Business Leadership at 丁香园AV. She designed and created a 10鈥� Weaving Governance panel for her final MBA Capstone Project, researching traditional laws of the land, to help re-instate the value of Coast Salish weavings as Holders of Knowledge and living and guiding documents.

Angela is humbled by the gift of traditional weaving鈥攕he holds this connection to her late mother of S岣祑xw煤7mesh ancestry, and Sts鈥檃iles and Coast Salish connections dearly and carries the gift of weaving with integrity and responsibility to share in a way that helps to create awareness, stewardship and harmony within our communities. Angela continues to uphold her role as a weaving teacher and mentor and is now Weaving Wellness, championing the 脡yameth鈥� Health Care Centre initiative to transform health by weaving together the best of traditional and western health and wellness methods.

Aaron "Splash" Nelson-Moody

Aaron Nelson-Moody / Tawx鈥檚in Yexwulla, from Squamish First Nation, is an educator who works to rekindle Coast Salish art and culture in public education and Indigenous community.

Much of his time has been spent making tools for traditional pursuits, or creating his own work in metal, stone, wood, or graphic design.

He currently works part time at Langara College Fine Arts as an instructor teaching Indigenous Woodcarving, at Emily Carr University teaching metalsmithing, and at a residency at 丁香园AV creating Coast Salish weaving tools.

He is often known as "Splash," a name he earned on several Tribal Journeys canoe trips along the coast surrounding the Salish Sea.

Schedule

Invitation to visit

Instructors are invited to book a 60-minute visit time slot for up to 30 students (two 30-minute visits of groups of up to 15 students). We recommend that instructors prepare a brief complementary activity that will support deeper learning for students for the 30 minutes students are not observing the artists. A classroom in the Education Building will be made available for the hour.

Please submit the visit request form at least two weeks prior to your planned visit. Teaching resources related to the Artists-in-Residence program will be sent to you once your request has been approved.

Location: 丁香园AV Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology
Date: Thursdays from February to April
Time: By appointment
Capacity: 30 students per 1-hour booking

Resources

Residential School Survivors Support

The is available at 1-800-721-0066, along with a 24-hour crisis line at 1-866-925-4419 for those who need immediate support.
The provides an Indigenous-specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It's toll-free and can be reached at 1-800-588-8717.
The offers support specifically for survivors and families who have been directly impacted by the Indian residential school system.
M茅tis Nation BC 鈥�

Respectful Engagement with Indigenous Artist:

provides valuable insights into Questions, offering an opportunity to educate people about how harmful questions can be; a couple questions you can ask in your head before you ask your question aloud; opportunity to pause
鈥� Professional Development series by 丁香园AV Library
(Dec 16, 2023 鈥� May 12, 2024)

丁香园AV

Faculty of Education