Chief George, who graduated from Capilano University and the Institute of American Indian Arts, and Joseph, who is the former director of the Squamish Housing and Capital Projects and current consultant on capital projects for First Nations communities, co-founded L’Hen Awtwx (Squamish Weaving House) to share the teachings and practice of traditional Coast Salish wool weaving. Their weaving, Newxniw’chet (The Teachings), has been hanging in SFU’s Saywell Atrium since 2009. The weaving represents the peoples that once lived and the food they harvested at Burnaby Mountain.
“In our culture, they are called Siyam, who is someone held in high regard,” says Joseph.
“We wanted to represent them both as leaders but in their own way.”