IAC Activities Update
PCI, Low Tide, and the IAC have engaged with the xʷməθkʷəy̓̓əm, Sḵwx̱̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations, as well as urban Indigenous peoples. The following is a high-level summary of the input and perspectives gathered regarding Skwachàys and the meaningful inclusion of Coast Salish elements in both South Flats projects.
Our engagement will continue indefinitely through construction and into the operation of the buildings through curated Indigenous events, festivals, celebrations, and continuing employment and procurement opportunities.
The IAC, with support from PCI and Low Tide, hosted a full-day workshop focused on engagement with Vancouver’s Urban Indigenous communities. Information about the two South Flats projects was shared, and extensive input and feedback was acquired. The groups explored ways to incorporate Indigenous art, culture, design, and history into the projects. Potential locations to host cultural festivals, workshops, performances, art installations, or other community events were explored.
PCI and Low Tide, in partnership with the Vancouver Community College, a neighbour of the South Flats site, sponsored the 2024 Indigenous Partnership Success Showcase, hosting a panel discussion titled “Towards a New Era of Urban Land Development: The Cultural Ribbon at Great Northern Way.”
PCI, Low Tide, and Design Team led by the IAC hosted a youth workshop with members from xʷməθkʷəy̓̓əm, Sḵwx̱̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations. Two groups were created to focus on each of the South Flats projects. Young artists, recent grads of the MST Futurism program, and community members shared their feedback on the architect’s preliminary designs and offered unique generational insight.
The IAC hosted multiple workshops with both the GNW-Emily Carr Station and GNW-VCC-Clark Station Architectural Design Teams to review the latest design concepts and provide additional direction and input on meaningful ways to incorporate Coast Salish and Indigenous knowledge, stories, culture and wisdom into the projects.
PCI and Low Tide hosted a United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) and Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) virtual workshop delivered by Ginger Gosnell-Myers. Over 50 people participated from our South Flats project teams and surrounding community to learn from Ginger, a member of the IAC and a prominent Nisga’a and Kwakwak’awakw professional policy planner.
PCI and Low Tide launched a project website featuring the IAC, sharing background information about the committee, cultural ribbon, and IAC’s project vision and guiding principles.
The IAC prepared large posters (with permission from Knowledge Keepers) on the Cultural Ribbon and Coast Salish stories heard in the Knowledge Keepers workshop, which were presented at the GNW-Emily Carr Station public open house. Attendees were pleased to see the inclusion of Coast Salish stories, and 38 people shared the following response to the IAC question on the comment cards available at the event and online.
Would you like to learn more about Coast Salish (check all those applicable):
The Gehl Group from Copenhagen, Denmark came to Vancouver to facilitate a two-day workshop on the Creative District. PCI, Low Tide, IAC, City of Vancouver, Vancouver Community College, Emily Carr University, Centre for Digital Media, and local businesses attended.
Low Tide hosted its first annual Flats Fest community celebration featuring live music, performances and an artisan market. The IAC hosted a booth, providing information about the South Flats projects and facilitated a Coast Salish art creation.
The IAC met virtually with City of Vancouver’s Indigenous Relations office to introduce the South Flats Projects and our unique plan for Indigenous engagement and collaboration. We continue to stay in regular contact with applicable City Indigenous Relations personnel.
The IAC facilitated a second knowledge keeper workshop with Hereditary Chief Ian Campbell, Artist and Young Professional James Harry from Sḵwx̱̱wú7mesh Nation and the South Flats Design Team.
The IAC facilitated a workshop with Councillor Charlene Aleck from səlilwətaɬ Nation and Elder Shane Pointe and his granddaughter Deanna Couture from xʷməθkʷəy̓̓əm Nation, and the South Flats Design Team including the project and landscape architects, and a public art consultant.
The IAC met with the South Flats Design Team for GNW-Emily Carr and GNW-VCC-Clark Stations to learn more about the projects and discuss ways to incorporate Coast Salish and Indigenous knowledge into them.
To breathe life into the Cultural Ribbon, PCI and Low Tide co-developed an Indigenous Advisory Committee (IAC) with Cory Douglas, Ginger Gosnell-Myers, and Aaron Aubin – accomplished Indigenous professionals – and Tim Grant, President of PCI. Its objective is to affirm South Flats’ commitment to revitalizing xʷməθkʷəy̓̓əm, Sḵwx̱̱wú7mesh, and səlilwətaɬ Nations (MST Nations) cultural identity and history of the area, traditionally known as Skwachàys. This will be accomplished through the creation of new processes and practices that support the integration of Coast Salish and Indigenous knowledge.
Through community planning charrettes convened by Low Tide and PCI and facilitated by Beasley & Associates, the teams identified the opportunity for a Cultural Ribbon and unique Indigenous engagement and collaboration for upcoming developments along Great Northern Way – notably by South Flats, Vancouver Community College and Onni were identified. IAC members Ginger Gosnell-Myers and Cory Douglas championed these concepts.