Public invited to Sept. 6 kickoff ceremony at The Alley
qathet, B.C. – Tla’amin youth, in collaboration with qathet-based artists, are proud to announce the launch of the Youth Voices Community Mural Project, a multi-part initiative that brings Tla’amin stories, teachings, and voices to life through large-scale public art.
After six months of collaboration, the first mural design chosen for installation at The Alley on Marine Ave is kʷakʷɛm – To Be Alive, created by Tla’amin artist Rhys Galligos with contributions from the project team. Painting will commence on September 6, beginning with a public kickoff ceremony from 10:00–11:00 AM, and will be completed by September 12.
“In the spirit of qathet—working together—Tla’amin youth and local artists have joined forces to design and create a mural that shares our taʔow (teachings) honours our ancestors, and reflects our deep connection to the land,” said hegus John Hackett .”The Youth Voices Community Mural Project will be a lasting symbol of Tla’amin pride in our territory.”
The Youth Voices Community Mural Project is supported by the BC Arts Council, The Alley, and the Tla’amin Nation. Artists Meghan Hildebrand and Annie Robinson and Elder Sherman Pallen supported Tla’amin youth artists Rhys Galligos, Makela Gallagher, Kobe Galligos, and Dion Marriott throughout the project.
“This has been an amazing ride, and we haven’t even started painting yet!” reflects mentor and artist Meghan Hildebrand. “What started as a conversation between friends about wanting to broaden the scope of murals in qathet and make positive moves toward redress in the arts rapidly became a collaboration, a mentorship project, a community builder and ultimately a dazzling, large-scale expression of Tla’amin creativity and resilience. We got to work with brilliant, thoughtful and talented Tla’amin artists and I can’t wait to see where they take this.”
Event Details
- Painting continues until September 12
- September 6, 2025
- 10:00–11:00 AM kickoff ceremony
- The Alley on Marine
About the Design: kʷakʷɛm – To Be Alive
By Rhys Galligos
Collectively, these designs demonstrate the beauty, strength, and resilience of our people.
“kʷakʷɛm / kwa-kwem / To Be Alive” highlights the historic and ongoing relationships ɬaʔəmɛn people have with the natural world around us, and how that relationship provides us with gifts and allows us to experience them as Human Beings.
“t̓agəm / tah-gum” in our language is the word for both Sun and the Moon, as they are two parts of one whole. Being represented together in this design demonstrates the balance their relationship enacts and serves as an example we can follow in our own lives.
“lamətohʊkt / lamuh-toh-hukt” in our language is our word for wool blanket. These expertly woven blankets have been crafted in our communities and have served many great purposes for our people since time immemorial. They function as robes of protection against the elements, for our spirits, for ceremonial purposes, and as physical examples of abundance which distinguished hawhɛgus / haw-hey-goos (leaders/wealthy people of the community) would distribute to the people at nohom / no-home (feasts). Within this design, the blanketing of the personified Sun visually demonstrates our respect and reverence for the abundant offerings the Sun brings our people. The Sun cradling the Moon demonstrates balance and care, working in tandem, it gently pulls us in the directions we need to go to grow, guiding us on our paths while walking in Our Way of Life.
“kʷakʷatɛlaq / kwa-kwa-tel-aq” is the general word for butterfly in our language. The one depicted in this design is more specifically a local species called the “clouded sulphur”, a low-flying insect relative, who enjoys pollinating our plants and helping our medicines grow with help from the Sun’s rays. Above the clouded sulphur, rests the North Star, bringing us guidance and light to follow through our darker nights.
Underlying these designs is a xʷoxʷop̓ɛʔɛč / xwoh-xwoh-peh-ech (basket weaving) design. These baskets were also expertly woven and used in our everyday lives, as well as extravagant gifts, displays of artistry, and familial ties within our communities. These vessels were tightly woven, intricately designed. Some of these baskets were so tightly woven they were capable of holding water as well as any of our other finest treasures, without letting them fall. Including them in this design represents our dedication as a community and as qaymɩxʷ / qaye-mew-xw people to hold the teachings of our ancestors, which these designs carry.
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