Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes explores a historic moment, at Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre
The new feature exhibition shares the story of how the Chiefs of 11 communities joined forces in 1911
Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes. Photo by Gail Johnson
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre presents Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes until December 1
ON MAY 10, 1911, the Chiefs of 11 Indigenous communities in B.C. came together to sign the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes. A new exhibition of the same name at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, running until December 1, explores the history of this watershed moment.
Each year, the Statymec Nations take turns hosting a ceremony to reaffirm the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes, honour the ancestors who signed it, and teach the next generation what it stands for.
Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes. Photo courtesy SLCC
The exhibition features the declaration itself, a document between the tribes and the governments of the Dominion of Canada and the Province of B.C. that asserts the sovereignty over traditional territories. It states in part, “We speak the truth, and we speak for our whole tribe, numbering about 1,400 people at the present time. We claim that we are the rightful owners of our tribal territory, and everything pertaining thereto. We have always lived in our Country; at no time have we ever deserted it, or left it to others. We have retained it from the invasion of other tribes at the cost of our blood. Our ancestors were in possession of our Country centuries before the whites came.”
Hand drum, Moon & Star, Ron Wallace, Lil’wat Nation. Animal hide, wooden frame, sinew, unknown paint. Photo by Gail Johnson
As set out in the exhibit, the ceremonial event follows traditional protocol, where messengers are sent to invite people to join the celebration. The skesen (runners), the most traditional form of communication between communities, run to each community to deliver the invitation. It historically would take four days for ancestors to run from Lil’wat territory over the Duffey Lake Trail to the Lilloeet area. They also used smoke signals from mountain tops to send messages. Today there are runners as well as messengers on horseback who travel in small groups to each village, explained in the exhibit through text-based displays.
Once both groups arrive at the host community, the ceremonies and celebrations begin, lasting two to four days. Each community organizes a range of events such as drumming, dancing, a talent contest, craft workshops, fashion shows, cooking contests, and more, depicted here through text.
Declaration of the Lillooet Tribes. Photo courtesy SLCC
Among the items that are part of the exhibition are monumental Salish wool weavings, which are foundational to the tradition and culture of the Statymec Nations. The heavy-looking blankets are in colours of ivory with black and red trim. There are several works made of cedar bark, including baskets, picture frames, a hat, and cape, all indications of a way of life prior to colonization. Then there are combs made of deer bone, buckskin gloves, a buckskin purse, and a hand drum made of animal hide in a wooden frame. Other artifacts include a hat, cape, and dress made of buckskin; arrows made of yellow cedar wood; and quivers made of birch bark and buckskin.
Making use of so many items are the six northern St'át'imc communities—Sekw'el'was, T'ít'q'et, Tsal'alh, Ts'kw'aylaxw, Xaxli'p, and Xwísten—and the five southern Stl'alt'imx communities: Líl'wat, N'Quatqua, Samahquam, Skatin, and Xa'xtsa.
While the Declaration was first signed in 1911, it’s just as pertinent now, the exhibition conveys, with Declaration Days taking place every year. The exhibition showcases traditional handiwork that was on the verge of being completely lost through colonization and celebrates the Nations’ pride and persistence in fighting for their rights.
The exhibition is curated by Mixalhítsa7 Alison Pascal. 
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