Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre serves up a Spo7ez Winter Feast
The culinary and culture-filled journey shares the histories and living heritage of the Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh Nation and L̓il̓wat7úl Nation
Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh L̓il̓wat7úl Cultural Centre’s Spo7ez Performance Team.
Updated: Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh L̓il̓wat7úl Cultural Centre presents Spo7ez Winter Feast at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, with 2022 dates to be announced.
ACCORDING TO LEGEND, Spo7ez (pronounced “spoh-ez”) was the name of a village once shared by the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation at the confluence of Rubble Creek and the Cheakamus River in what’s now known as Whistler. For millennia, members of both nations co-existed peacefully. Upon seeing disrespect build between the two groups, however, the mighty supernatural being Thunderbird swooped in, flapping his wings and causing a volcano to erupt at Black Tusk. The shake led to a rumbling rockslide that buried the ancient site. Survivors were sent home with a message: that the two nations are and must be friends, family, and neighbours. Thunderbird told them that the area around Black Tusk would be their shared territory.
The story remains a reminder of the importance of cooperation and living in harmony.
In that spirt, the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC( is launching Spo7ez Winter Feast, a culinary journey and immersive cultural event by members of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation.
Taking place select Fridays from December 17 to February 18, the evening begins with a SLCC cultural ambassador inviting guests to meet at the centre’s traditional Welcome Figure, where they’ll sing “Chief Jimmy Jimmy”. The song is in honour of a late leader of the Squamish Nation whose ancestral name was Swahsh and who has a mountain named after him.
From there, guests go on a guided tour of the Great Hall and exhibits, including a short film, to take a deeper dive into both Nations’ histories and living heritage. The feast itself takes place in the Istken, a striking round room with wrap-around windows, where the Spo7ez Performance Team shares a feast blessing, songs, stories, and dances throughout the evening.
“What’s great is not only are guests able to join in a winter feast, but they get to hear our songs and learn about our culture, too,” says Swisk Jay Natrell, a SLCC cultural ambassador, tour guide, Spo7ez performer, and member of the Squamish Nation. “We do a Lil’wat welcome song and a Squamish paddle song, which is also a welcoming song, with drumming. The paddle song is part of our traditional protocol; we would sing it while travelling to different locations on other territories where other nations are from and also to ask for permission to land on their territory. We always extend the song when our guests arrive so everyone can have that experience.”
“Whenever we do our winter feasts, we usually wear our regalia,” he adds. “I see us youth carrying on that lineage and knowledge and passing it down to newer generations.”
Swisk Jay Natrell. Photo by Logan Swayze
Natrell first got involved with SLCC a few years ago through its Indigenous Youth Ambassador program, a training course that teaches the foundations of business through the lens of a First Nations museum. It proved to be a life-changing experience for Natrell, who was born in Canada, raised in the U.S., and knew little about his culture while growing up.
“The IYA was the best experience I’ve ever had,” Natrell says. “Learning more and more about where I come from was almost like a spiritual awakening. A lot of us grew up off reserve and didn’t have access to our culture. The first time I started learning how to play the drum was five years ago. It felt like coming home. My goal is to inspire Indigenous youth to learn about our culture and to share it with other people.”
Food is another way of sharing culture, says Lil’wat Red Seal apprentice Maggie Wallace.
With 13 siblings, Wallace remembers spending time in the kitchen when she was little, watching her mom make bannock, which was one of the first foods she learned how to make.
Working closely with SLCC chef Felix Breault, Wallace says the menu for the Spo7ez Winter Feast consists of seasonal ingredients and Indigenous-inspired plates.
“With the winter feast, we pride ourselves on taking our traditional foods and adding modern touches,” Wallace says. “The winter feast is quite the experience. With the windows and everything being nicely lit at night in the wintertime, the evening has an otherworldly feel.”
The buffet-style meal includes dishes from the Meadow: Pemberton Smashed Potatoes with caramelized onions, garlic oil, and herbs; and a Beet and Kale Salad with roasted apples, cranberries, toasted pecans, and house-made berry vinaigrette. From the Ocean are Winter Ale Steamed Clams made with Nelson Brewing Company Faceplant Ale, bacon, roasted garlic, and seaweed; and West Coast Cedar Plank Salmon with citrus and a maple glaze. SLCC Indigenous-Inspired Cuisine features Caramelized Onion and Sage Bannock; and Venison Stew with wild mushrooms, parsnip, rosemary. For dessert, there’s a comforting Apple Crumble with Xusem Whipped Cream.
Among the beverage options is wine from Indigenous World Winery, which is based in present-day Kelowna and was launched by Robert and Bernice Louie, descendants of the Okanagan Syilx people.
The Spo7ez Performance Team brings the night to a finish with closing remarks and songs, giving guests the chance to take photos and visit the gift shop before leaving. It all makes for a feast that’s not just a meal but more of a complete cultural and culinary experience.
“I love the fact that people are learning about our culture and what we do here,” Natrell says. It’s so cool, and I don’t know of any other centre that does what we do.”
For more information, see SLCC.
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