SLCC to host awakening ceremony for Story Pole by Ed Archie NoiseCat, April 22
The Líl̓wat7úl (Lilwat) artist’s Sqātsza7 Tmicw — Father Land is 20-foot-tall carving of red and yellow cedar
Photo courtesy SLCC.
Líl̓wat7úl (Lilwat) artist Ed Archie NoiseCat’s Story Pole Sqātsza7 Tmicw – Father Land, a 20-foot cedar carving standing on a 900-pound block of basalt, will receive an awakening ceremony at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre’s Great Hall on April 22 from 2 to 5 pm.
The carving is the culmination of Sqātsza7 Tmicw – Father Land, NoiseCat’s 2020-21 solo exhibition at the SLCC, which is on shared Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) and Lilwat territory in Whistler. Featuring a collection of pieces celebrating the lifetime achievements of the Seattle-based multi-disciplinary artist, the exhibition was NoiseCat’s first on his father’s traditional territory. (Read Stir’s feature article on the exhibition here.)
Themes of fatherhood and family are woven throughout the pole. Sqātsza7 Tmicw – Father Land tells the story of the old-growth yellow and red cedar it is made of; of the Thunderbird and Black Tusk; of how a spirit called “Black crawler” brought the Woman’s warrior song to Ed’s Auntie Martina Pierre during a sweat ceremony; and more, according to a release.
Ed Archie NoiseCat.
“Sqātsza7 Tmicw represents THIS land,” NoiseCat says. “My father's land. This territory that is the home of the Peters family from Samahquam and Ts̓zil. The home of Nkasusa, Chief Harry Peters, my great grandfather. The home land of my father, Ray Peters,” says NoiseCat. “‘Squatsza7 tmicw' means Father land.
“My work is inspired by the stories that comprise my life, the people, tricksters, tragedies and triumphs of the Indigenous experience,” adds NoiseCat, who works in various media, including wood, bronze, silver, gold, glass, and print and who trained at Emily Carr University.
NoiseCat will attend the April 22 awakening. The public is welcome to join the ceremony and experience drumming, bear dancing, and other Líl̓wat offerings.
Entry to the awakening ceremony and museum is free or by donation from 1 pm.
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