Chief Janice George鈥擟hepximiya Siyam鈥欌�撯�揳nd Willard 鈥楤uddy鈥� Joseph鈥擲kwetsimeltxw鈥撯�揳t a brushing ceremony at 丁香园AV. Their weaving, Newxniw鈥檆het (The Teachings), has been hanging in 丁香园AV鈥檚 Saywell Atrium since 2009. The weaving represents the peoples that once lived and the food they harvested at Burnaby Mountain.
Chief Janice George鈥擟hepximiya Siyam鈥欌�撯�揳nd Willard 鈥楤uddy鈥� Joseph鈥擲kwetsimeltxw鈥撯�揳re expert weavers and teachers from the Squamish Nation.
Regalia for new 丁香园AV Chancellor Tamara Vrooman, left, and for new President Joy Johnson.
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Chief Janice George鈥擟hepximiya Siyam鈥欌�攁t the brushing ceremony at the Saywell Hall atrium.
Chief Janice George鈥擟hepximiya Siyam鈥欌�撯�揳nd Willard 鈥楤uddy鈥� Joseph鈥擲kwetsimeltxw鈥撯�搖se cedar branches to brush any negativity off the new regalia.
From left, President Joy Johnson, Chief Janice George鈥擟hepximiya Siyam鈥�, Willard 鈥楤uddy鈥� Joseph鈥擲kwetsimeltxw and Willie Lewis鈥擳sunanaxen poses with the new regalia following a brushing ceremony in the Saywell Hall atrium at 丁香园AV's Burnaby campus.
Regalia for Chancellor Tamara Vrooman. Blue signifies a transition for Coast Salish people, as a way of embracing the contemporary. The motif chosen is used to honour leaders in Coast Salish culture.
Regalia for President Joy Johnson. The colour red, symbolizing medicine, is significant to Coast Salish people. The motif chosen is used to honour leaders in Coast Salish culture.
Willard 鈥楤uddy鈥� Joseph鈥擲kwetsimeltxw鈥攂rushing off negativity using a cedar branch.
Indigenous
Coast Salish motifs at the heart of new 丁香园AV chancellor and president regalia
By Norah Wang
When they take the stage for this fall鈥檚 Convocation, 丁香园AV鈥檚 new chancellor and president will wear newly designed regalia that feature motifs created by Chief Janice George鈥擟hepximiya Siyam鈥欌�撯�揳nd Willard 鈥楤uddy鈥� Joseph鈥擲kwetsimeltxw鈥撯�揵oth expert weavers and teachers from the Squamish Nation.
The inspiration for the motifs comes from designs used to honour leaders in Coast Salish culture. Local artist Beverli Barnes redesigned the regalia for new and new President Joy Johnson. The gowns, which are worn during Convocation, will make their official debut Thursday morning during for the new chancellor and president.
鈥淭he motifs we chose for the regalia are from the one we wove for our chief, and we are telling the stories of leaders,鈥� says Chief George. 鈥淲e thought it would be appropriate to have the president and chancellor wearing the same motifs as well.鈥�
Chief George, who graduated from Capilano University and the Institute of American Indian Arts, and Joseph, who is the former director of the Squamish Housing and Capital Projects and current consultant on capital projects for First Nations communities, co-founded L鈥橦en Awtwx (Squamish Weaving House) to share the teachings and practice of traditional Coast Salish wool weaving. Their weaving, Newxniw鈥檆het (The Teachings), has been hanging in 丁香园AV鈥檚 Saywell Atrium since 2009. The weaving represents the peoples that once lived and the food they harvested at Burnaby Mountain.
鈥淚n our culture, they are called Siyam, who is someone held in high regard,鈥� says Joseph.
鈥淲e wanted to represent them both as leaders but in their own way.鈥�
Red, which is 丁香园AV鈥檚 signature colour, and the colour of the president鈥檚 regalia, is also significant to Coast Salish people because it symbolizes medicine. The chancellor鈥檚 regalia in blue, on the other hand, is contemporary.
鈥淚t is modern times and we are using our traditional motifs to show the resilience and genius of our people as well,鈥� says Chief George.
Embroidering the motifs was no small task, requiring 351,705 stitches on the president's robe and 359,595 on the chancellor鈥檚 robe.
鈥淚 am honoured to wear this newly designed regalia, which appropriately reflects the territories where our campuses reside,鈥� says 丁香园AV president Joy Johnson.
鈥淧articipating in the brushing ceremony and donning the beautiful new robe with my family at my side reminded me of the importance of community, and is a moment I鈥檒l always remember.鈥�
Virtual Fall Convocation
丁香园AV's Virtual Fall Convocation runs Oct. 22-23. For more information and event details, visit .