Gallery Renovation,
Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre

Originally launched for the 2010 Winter Olympics, the SLCC’s gallery was created to share cultural knowledge and foster cross-cultural understanding across Canada. When the time came to refresh the space, Know History worked closely with SLCC leadership and curator Alison Pascal to reimagine the gallery so that it both honoured the original vision and reflected the Centre’s evolving role as a living, dynamic space.

At the heart of the project was the development of a detailed Interpretive Plan. This plan ensured a balance of stories from both the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, emphasized the importance of language, and brought oral histories and testimony from Nation members into the forefront of the exhibition. Know History’s team collaborated with Nation members in community engagement sessions, where their voices and priorities shaped every aspect of the exhibition. The final design drew on culturally significant fonts, colours, and symbolism, and integrated imagery and narratives that highlight the Nations’ enduring relationships with their lands and with one another.

In partnership with exhibition fabricator Three Dimensional Services, Know History oversaw the production and installation of more than fifty new interpretive elements, including panels, display cases, and digital media. This revitalization not only updated the gallery’s content to reflect the period between 2008 and the present but also incorporated contemporary interpretive practices and new understandings of the Squamish and Lil’wat languages, Skwxwú7mesh sníchim and Ucwalmícwts.

The renewed exhibition opened in June 2025 with a community celebration that included traditional regalia, drumming, singing, and reflections from Squamish and Lil’wat leaders and Elders. The event underscored the strength of the partnership between the two Nations and the importance of creating a space where their voices and stories continue to be shared with future generations.