Words Rising, Birds Rising

September 18 – October 30, 2021

Who are the birds of these beautiful Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh homelands?

Come and listen to the language of birds. The teachings of birds. The rememberings of birds. The songs of birds.

Birds have an important place in local stories and cultures, interconnected with all aspects of life and the natural world. Birds can be messengers and guides. They often play leadership roles as heroes, tricksters, wise advisors, transformers. Birds hold an important place in the full array of life – ceremony, cultural expression, naming, songs, learning, language, laughter, healing.

Curator Kamala Todd (Métis-Cree), brings together artists Christie Charles (of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Nation and with lineage to Sel̓íl̓witulh and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nations), Charlene George (of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Sel̓íl̓wat Nations) and Wil George (of the Sel̓íl̓witulh Nation) to explore cultural knowledge of birds from these lands and waters through language, video, sound and poetry.

Christie Charles a.k.a “Miss Christie Lee” of Musqueam, with linage to Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nations, is an artist who expresses her gifts in many forms. Growing up in a world of music her focus has been hip hop, namely raps, where she as an emcee incorporates her traditional knowledge, stories and ancient Musqueam dialect. She is a story teller, coastal hand drum singer, filmmaker and a speaker for her ancestors. Her goal is to empower and reconnect spirits to who we truly are as first peoples of the lands. Christie was appointed the City of Vancouver’s first Indigenous Poet Laureate in 2018 and was Poet Laureate until 2020.

S7atsáliya (Charlene George) comes from the Sḵwx̱wú7meshulh and Sel̓íl̓watulh Nations. She carries a Diploma in Proficiency of a First Nations Language, and is currently working towards her Masters in Indigenous Languages and Linguistics. S7atsáliya has also taught the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish Language) for the past 4.5 years; recently completing her part in teaching the 2nd offering of the Diploma program via SFU. She’s currently sitting on the Board of Directors for a non-profit organization, committed to doing our part in revitalizing the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh sníchim. She loves to network, and collaborate with multiple entities to incorporate the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim where appropriate as well. S7atsáliya is also a wool weaver, singer, and dancer, learning from and alongside her family. She loves to see her friends and relatives thriving; and given the opportunities to showcase their talents, gifts, and intelligence within their respective communities, and within the larger-scale cities. The incorporation of our art, language, and ways of being into everyday lives, are important not only to us, but to our ancestors, and the future generations to come.

Wil George is Coast Salish from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. He is a poet. Wil’s work is published in various literary magazines and literary journals including ricepaper magazine Issues 17.3 and 17.4 special issue Aboriginal & Asian Canadian Writers and Salish Seas Anthology published by Aboriginal Writers Collective West Coast. His book of poetry called Survival In Its Many Shapes was published by UNIT-PITT Projects. Wil’s poetry focusses on water-bodies (inlets, rivers, oceans, etc.) and the land (mountains, forests, shore-lines, etc.) He also uses Wolf and Raven from traditional Salish stories in contemporary settings and addressing contemporary issues. Wil was the 2017 recipient of the Mayor’s award for emerging artist in Literary Arts.

Kamala Todd is a Métis-Cree mother, filmmaker, community planner, curator, and educator born and raised in the beautiful lands of the hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Skwxwú7mesh-speaking people (also known as Vancouver). She holds a Masters degree in urban cultural Geography (UBC). She was the City of Vancouver’s Aboriginal Social Planner, and the City’s first Indigenous Arts and Culture Planner. Kamala’s film credits include Indigenous Plant Diva, Cedar and Bamboo, RELAW: Living Indigenous Laws, and Sharing our Stories: the Vancouver Dialogues Project. In 2015 she created a video series about Indigenous law for UVic’s Indigenous Law Research Unit. Kamala writes and directs for children’s television, including the Indigenous science series Coyote’s Crazy Smart Science Show on APTN. She is currently adjunct professor at SFU Urban Studies, and at UBC SCARP.

Exhibition Reception: Sunday, September 26, 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Curator’s Talk with Kamala Todd:  Friday, October 8, at 7 p.m.
Stories and Songs with S7atsáliya: Friday, October 22, 2021 at 6 p.m.
Stories and Songs with Christie Charles: Saturday, October 23, 2021 at 2 p.m.
Presentation and Workshop with Wil George: Saturday, October 30, 2021 at 3 p.m.