In the Presence of Ancestors; House Post Project
“Port Moody resides within the beautiful ancestral lands and waters of the Coast Salish people. Many positive changes towards redress, truth-telling and reclamation of Indigenous values are happening in our city with softness of healing slowly rippling throughout all of our communities. In the Presence of Ancestors is an effort to carve these changes permanently into the legacy of Port Moody and create a path of healing for all of our relations.”
~ Tasha Faye Evans
These lands and waters, currently known as Port Moody, have been cared for by a long legacy of ancestors since time immemorial. These ancestors include the people of Xʷməθkʷəy̓əm, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Səlilwətaɬ, kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, and the S’ólh Téméxw. While each of these Nations are unique with their own songs, histories, and languages, they all share in a sacred responsibility to care for the future of these lands and waters. In partnership with the Port Moody Ecological Society, Coast Salish artist Tasha Faye Evans is curating a commission of house posts to be carved by artists from five of these Nations. This collection of house posts will be raised along Port Moody’s iconic Shoreline trail and be called, “In the Presence of Ancestors”. Each house post will rise to watch over these lands and waters and be a life-long reminder to residents of our shared and sacred responsibility to join the legacy of ancestors caring for the future of all of our relations.
As each house post is carved, the artist will be in residence at the Noons Creek hatchery and will be supported by a program of Knowledge Keepers and artists to highlight each Nation and their history in these lands.
The House Posts have now been carved, and will be raised along the shoreline trail.
“In the Presence of Ancestors” reasserts the presence of the original caretakers of these Coast Salish Lands and Waters, inviting all of us to join this legacy of ancestors and ensure a healthy future for all of our relations.