The Whistler Podcast
Join host Mayor Jack Crompton for candid community conversations about current events, local government and everything Whistler on The Whistler Podcast. As part of the RMOW’s and Mayor Crompton’s broader work toward enriching the community fabric and community building in Whistler, the podcast provides a new channel to connect with Whistler residents to discuss topics of municipal and community interest.Twice a month, Mayor Jack Crompton will invite a community leader or special guest to join him at the Mountain FM Whistler studio to share opinions about current events and hot topics that are important to the community.
The Whistler Podcast
Season 2 Episode 24: Connecting with youth through the SLCC Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program (with Cheximiya Allison Burns Joseph)
In this episode of The Whistler Podcast, Mayor Jack Crompton talks with Cheximiya Allison Burns Joseph, the Manager of the Indigenous Youth Ambassadors Program (IYA) at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
Cheximiya Allison Burns Joseph talks about the IYA Program, and the linguistic histories of the Squamish Nation and Lil’wat Nation. She also shares about her weaving under the mentorship of Chepximiya Siyam’ Chief Janice George and performing in the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games Opening Ceremony.
Transcript available on request.
Today on the whistle podcast,
Speaker 2:The whistle territory, hasn't always been Whistler in, uh, there's an area known as TMA and Squamish people. We call squeak. Squeak comes from the Marmite that are found a lot in the area and like making that connection back to the language we call it squeak because the Marmite make a squeak.
Speaker 1:He is cool. Step. I am Jack Crompton. This is the whistle podcast. Wanna acknowledge that we live, work and play on the traditional unseated territories of the Lil wat nation and the Squamish nation call today, we are talking to Allison burns, Joseph Chaia, which I will ask her about, because I, I wanna say it correctly, but she leads the IY, a program at the Squamish lo cultural center. I'm really looking forward to talking to her today.
Speaker 3:Yeah, me too. I'm excited to see what they've got going on. And I know some of the conversations are going to be very eye opening for us. So
Speaker 1:Yes, I, I think we will learn lots. One of the things I'm excited about getting to is the Boez winter feast, which, uh, you can go and have dinner in the Squamish, Lil what cultural center. Um, it, it just looks like an exceptional experience.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Looking at the, uh, the menu. It, it just looks honestly incredible. It looks like an amazing night out.
Speaker 1:We should offer them a deal. Well, if they let us, you know, have dinner for free, we'll go live on site.
Speaker 3:Yeah. A live podcast.
Speaker 1:I don't, I don't think that we're all that I think they're gonna say. Yeah, that's great. You can be live on site, but
Speaker 3:Still 80 bucks.
Speaker 1:Exactly. Um, all right. Let's get to ask Jack anything Cole, go for it.
Speaker 3:All right. So I actually, uh, I saw this on the comment of, uh, one of our last episodes actually, uh, uh, one of the due episodes, which are all great, but one of the comments on him was talk asking kind of you about, and I'm sure you've been dealing with a lot of comments, like it's about the transit strike, which is still ongoing and has been over a month. It's getting to a month and a half year. And I, can you explain to me how that works or what your role in is because we talked kind of off Mike a while ago about how it's not really in your court. Um, and I just wanna understand so that I and other people can kind of get a better idea of what, what everyone's role is in this. Sure.
Speaker 1:Um, the, the surface service and Whistler is owned by BC transit. They have a contractual relationship with Pacific Western transportation, who is the, uh, the service provider who then, um, has a relationship with the union uniform. And so the two parties that need to come to an agreement are the union uniform and the operator PWT. And so they are, they haven't been negotiating in six weeks, w they've spent one afternoon speaking, and that is something that I, um, find frustrating. I know our community does. And so my ask to them has been very clear, get back to the table and get an agreement, uh, Whistler, Squamish, Pemberton, Mount Curry, all of us, uh, put money into the service, uh, through BC transit, but we don't have, uh, operational control. Uh, and we don't control the relationship between the parties. That's, that's one that they, uh, contract on with each other.
Speaker 3:Uh, it's interesting. Okay. I, I wasn't, I personally wasn't even exactly sure how it worked and a lot of people didn't even calling me asking about it and I was like, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, I, they just need to get back to the table. Yeah. For me, this is straightforward. You do, you will not get a deal unless you talk to each other.
Speaker 3:So they're not even having conversations really
Speaker 1:Not right now. No. Which is disappointing. It
Speaker 3:Is. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So, uh, I'll say it again, please. If you can hear my voice. Yeah. Get back to the table and get a deal. It's too important to this, this community. One of the things that's challenging is the longer, this goes on the, the more damage it does to the service and the harder it is to build back and grow, uh, transit in our corridor. Like we intend to, yeah. Our goal is to have more service, uh, which is good for the drivers. It's good for the company. It's good for our community. Uh, and to get there, we need a deal and a deal soon.
Speaker 3:Yeah. So many people in our communities rely on transit and, uh, I've made this joke before, but we have really long towns and getting from one side to the other without transit gotta have'em back. It's crazy. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah. No, absolutely. Yeah. Thanks for asking. So ask Cole anything. Here's my question. Lot of talk about the Olympics right now. Cole, what do you remember from the 2010 winter Olympics?
Speaker 3:Ooh, what a great question. I was so young baby faced. Cool. Back then. I, the, okay. This is such a corny answer. The one, I, I, I remember a few things, cause I did go up the day, uh, that I've mentioned this before with John Montgomery, when he won, uh, skeleton and he was walking through the village with a pitcher, I thought that was so cool. I have a couple other, like very vivid memories. I wore a massive USA cowboy hat skiing one day, cuz they were just handing them out. Uh, and speaking with people from around the world on the buses, cuz we would go up and down on the buses every day. It was honestly, it was an incredible experience. But the thing that I remember most and I'm getting literally tingly talking about it, the vibe, the energy of the entire corridor that whole two weeks was yeah. Something that I've never experienced before. And I, my girlfriend's from Ontario. So I talked, I, I mentioned to her a lot, cuz it's a big deal to us here and they'll see this guy and I talk about it and she gives me this look like, I talk about how the vibe and, and the feeling and the energy of just everyth and it was so powerful and so charged. And uh, I don't know if she just thinks I'm crazy cuz out east, you know, they didn't even get like school off for all of it. And we just got to live that whole time in this like global center. It was so cool. So I just remember the energy most and like, and the, and this, the, the charged up feeling of everyone. It was incredible.
Speaker 1:Yeah. How old were you?
Speaker 3:I was, uh, I was 15 and I, I had a job. I was washing dishes at a restaurant that is no longer here. Uh, and I quit. I quit my last day was the day before the Olympics and I started a new job the first day after the Olympics. I like took a two week sabbatical basically just to enjoy the games.
Speaker 1:Oh I bet your boss
Speaker 3:Loves. Yeah. I was like, peace. I'm gonna go watch, uh, go watch Canada, win some medals
Speaker 1:Right on. All right. Getting to peak last week I give you three headlines. You choose one. We talk about it. The first BC budget release and it's implications for Whistler. Number two, Whistler housing authority announces sale of 46 units in check Themas crossing and number three, Whistler businesses overcame flurry of challenges during holiday season. What's your choice.
Speaker 3:Okay. I act she wanna know about the budget of BC and how it, how it changes Whistler. I wanna know that cuz I don't know how that works either.
Speaker 1:All right, sounds good. So the BC budget is critical to, uh, Whistler's existence. We get a lot of resources through the investments that they make around BC. Tourism is a, an aspect of, of the economy. That's primarily a provincial task. And when Whistler was created as the resort municipality of Whistler, they gave us an additional mandate that most municipalities around BC don't have, which is to manage and vest and promote tourism. Uh, and so we're carefully attuned to, uh, the resourcing of the tourism sector that comes through the provincial budget. So that's where we look first, but also the province is critical to our transportation, uh, network, as I said earlier, they fund and lead transit in British Columbia. And so we're looking to the budget to see, uh, what is, is included from a transit perspective, housing. They are critical to the promotion and the growth of affordable housing, um, throughout the province and in Whistler. And so those are some of the pieces of the budget that we look at most closely. There is nothing in this budget for transit expansion, which is disappointing. There is resourcing in it for additional employee housing, which now we have to make the case that the best place to spend that money is in Whistler. Right? And then third, um, the resourcing that comes through to support tourism is in this budget as well, which we're in encouraged by. So, um, on budget, many people in the resort, municipality whistle and in every municipality cross, uh, BC is paying close attention because the investments that they make, um, change what happens in communities. One, a couple other ones that are of note in this budget, uh, they are, they have committed to moving daycare into the ministry of education, which is a big deal. Cause it kind of gives it a bit of a, a more robust nature being in the, the ministry of education. And, um, they've committed to making daycare$20 a day, uh, across BC by the end of this year on their way towards right.$10 a day. That's still incredible. Yeah. So there are some good things, uh, coming out of it for sure. Yeah. Right on. Great. All right, cool. That was it. It always good to talk about the BC budget. Love it. I have to say. Yeah, but I think our conversation that's been next is going to be far more interesting. Let's chat with Allison burns. Joseph Alison burns. Joseph is the leader of human resources and cultural delivery for the Squamish, Lil what cultural center. She leads the AYA program, which is the Aboriginal youth ambassador training program. Much of her work with the AOA is working with them to renew and revive the culture. Well making memorable experiences through arts history song. Allison is a true leader in whistle. She is a deeply compelling voice for street culture and people of this place. Alison burns. Joseph, thank you for speaking to Cole and I on the whistle podcast today.
Speaker 2:Awesome. I'm excited to be here and it sounds like I need to update my bio.
Speaker 1:Did I get it wrong? What did I get wrong?
Speaker 2:Uh, well, since the pandemic, I no longer have to take on the HR role. So I'm super excited with, uh, Julie, who is our, our person in that role currently big help for us. And also we have renamed the program to Iya, a
Speaker 1:Iya. Okay. And that's indigenous youth ambassador program. I see Iya, Iya, Iya. A I will make sure that's ingrained in my mind.
Speaker 2:Thank you.
Speaker 1:Um, so your, your name is CZE Simia. How do I say that? Well,
Speaker 2:That was a good shot. And that's generally what I hear a lot of my sister likes to call meze Samaya.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:But in the traditional way, my ancestral name is JohE
Speaker 1:Cho.
Speaker 2:Very good. An ha
Speaker 1:Ch sorry. And then what did you say?
Speaker 2:Uh, I said an H, which is very good.
Speaker 1:Okay. An H I noticed that your mentor, Sam Janice George's name is very similar to yours. Uh, how do you say her? How do you say her name?
Speaker 2:Chuck he
Speaker 1:Chaia. And is there a connection between Chaia and Chaia
Speaker 2:One of the people that are very known within the culture? Uh, S Ray nare. He did say that there was a connection between the names in the long ago, but we not related,
Speaker 1:But she is your mentor in life and art and, and everything. Huh?
Speaker 2:Exactly. She is a wonderful woman and I was so excited that she was here earlier in the week for the opening of the living language exhibition here at the S LCC.
Speaker 1:Yeah. She is in a extremely powerful and, and, and, um, inspiring person to be sure. Um, tell us about the li living languages exhibit.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. I'm so excited for it to be here. It is super cool. And now that the regulations have lifted up a bit, it gives people more of a, a hands on feel about the language, because there are different buttons that you can push to really hear how things would sound. When we were saying my name, there's that sound, there's an X with a line under it, uh, in the written language. And that's where that comes from, where many people ask us about the seven in our written language, and that's a glottal stop. And so it's a brief pause and it gives people an idea of how the hooks over top of some of the letters elongate the sounds. So it's a really cool way for people to, to get a good feel of our language. There's lots of great videos as well, to showcase people on their journeys, as well as some really cool imageries and things to read. So I do suggest if people are curious about all of the highway signage that we have along the seat of sky, and they're like, how the heck do I pronounce some of that Come on over this, exhibit's gonna really help you out.
Speaker 1:And is it that how long is, is, uh, living languages going to be at this cultural center?
Speaker 2:They just told me. And now that I'm on the spot, I can't recall the exact end date, but I do know it's on the website. And I do hope that everyone gets a chance to see it before it goes.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I, I think it's for sure, a few months, so people do have time to visit it. So when I say me, I probably, I, I know I'm getting it wrong. Where is the Golo stop in the word for, for Squamish
Speaker 2:Seven mesh
Speaker 1:Hol mesh.
Speaker 2:There you go.
Speaker 1:All right. That's great. And one of the things that I've noticed as I walk through the S LCC is that there are significant differences between the Squamish nation and the Lil what nation, whether it's clothing, food, housing, the differences are, are obvious and, and very even the size of canoes, uh, is, is different. Uh, you spend so much time mentoring people from both nations. I'm interested in, uh, tho that relationship between the Squamish and the lo wa being, I think maybe similar in some ways, but also so different. Tell us about the two nations
Speaker 2:I'm from the Squamish nation and Squamish nation is Cosalish lo wa people are interior Salish and our Squamish people call lo wat nation, low holes that that's our word for them. And so that's another thing you'll see on the signs along the highway. And what we have going on here at this center is celebrating both of the communities in such a positive way and celebrating those similarities and those differences mainly it's where we live. The Squamish people have the coast along the ocean and the water low, what are more in the mountains and have more of a drier season. They have really good berries and so many things that our Squamish people love to trade for. And then of course, we have all the things like urchins from the sea and different things that we love to trade with other communities that do not have access as, as easily to the, to the waterways as we do. And that kind of speaks to the sizing of canoes as well is because our people in Squamish nation could travel as far as Hawaii, California, and we're on those big wide open oceans going all these distances. So we need those larger canoes to be able to transport people and items through, through those treacherous waters in some days, and little lot people are I, and that's why we have those. They have smaller canoes. So it really fits the waterways that they have within the territory. And here in Whistler, we're able to overlap or, and have a shared territory here where we're able to really thrive in a positive way. They have had so many positive can through both of the communities through the timelines over the years. And we had a shared village that we lived together here in Whistler known as Boez just, uh, by Daisy lake there rubble Creek and our people lived in harmony, shared resources, shared the, and that's why I think we do have some language that is very similar. Our word for bear is Meha. Their word for bear is Meha. So I always found that super interesting, but there is a lot of very differences as well, specifically in the language and how, how we utilize different things. For example, low up people are known for wearing a lot of buck, skin, regalia, and looking really good with that. Our Squamish people use that technique and wore those items as well, just in different ways. And our Squamish people are really known for using the mountain goat wall and making woven blankets and weavings something I'm super passionate about as you know, and the Lobo people. It's not really known too much in their history about using the woo in that way, but there is some, some oral traditions and stories that have been passed down about it. So it's really cool about what we have available to us and how we're able to utilize these pieces in such a cool way and always changing.
Speaker 1:So the beginning, you said it comes out of where we live, and that is really interesting that the land shapes so much about who the Squamish nation are and who the Lil, what nation are. That's fascinating.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that reminds me of a quote from Chiefy and Campbell. He did some filming years ago and talks about the, the, the land and how the language comes from the land. And that's why we have some sharpness to some of our words is because, uh, mountains can be quite sharp or, or very rolling with the waves. And it's just all also interconnected in just such a amazing way. I'm actually applied to the Simon Frazier university Squamish language program coming up. So I can't wait to see I'm here and learn more about the language.
Speaker 1:So you have, I, I, I am, well, I've heard you use many, any Squamish nation words. This program will lead you towards like speaking the language rather than using words. Is that a fair way of saying it?
Speaker 2:I would agree with that. It makes it more of a conversational level rather than saying like commands or just saying colors and numbers, which are things that I've picked up over the years.
Speaker 1:So you are an artist, uh, as well as a, a ambassador and a leader in your community. Tell us about weaving. We talked about ch Samia, uh, chief Janice, George, and, um, buddy Joseph is, is, is that a relation of, is buddy a relation of yours? You both have Joseph in your name?
Speaker 2:He would, uh, I'm a Joseph through marriage. Okay. And so him, he and my husband would be direct descendants of each other. And that's a huge family. Oh,
Speaker 1:Oh it okay.
Speaker 2:Once I married my husband, I ended up, uh, with a, a lot more family than I ever knew before.
Speaker 1:Um, so I, I, I, I read about your weaving that you're, uh, an educator, you enjoyed teaching people. And I read a story about how you taught your aunt Janet to weave who immediately surpassed you. Um, I'm wondering if you've caught up to your pupil yet.
Speaker 2:Well, she's actually taken a bit of a break and moved Africa, and she's been learning and showcasing our Cosalish weaving there and learning about the weaving that they do, which is so fine compared to the weaving that we do over here. So I don't know if I could say I've surpassed her with her bags yet, but man, I do love waving and I just finished a, a really cool commission. And I can't wait till, see the look on their face when they receive it, because I have thought about Whistler and black hole, mountain and woo of those within my design weaving is something that's been such a passion of mine that the cultural center and chief Janice, George and buddy Joseph have really, really connected me with. Uh, we do have a workshop for people to gain some basic skills here at the SCC coming up and March. So if people do wanna get a feel of it, they can definitely sign up for that, but I cannot stop waving. I don't think I will ever stop. It's such a passion.
Speaker 1:Did you know that the first time you sat down and, and, and weaved, or was it frustrating at the beginning?
Speaker 2:Well, growing up, I always knew I wanted to be an artist. I thought being an artist meant I had to draw and paint, and that's where I got frustrated because I never was, felt like that was it for me. So when I was introduced to, I that's exactly it, I knew that that was for me. So we did an introductory class, learned some basic techniques from the mentors. And then I really went on a learning journey. I read books, I went on the internet, I talked to other weavers, really just played around, tried things all on my own and then was able to do a full mentorship with chief Janice, George and buddy, uh, a few years, uh, well before COVID. And that really fulfilled my, myself and my learning journey with weaving, of course it never stops, but that was really where I like, wow, I'm a, I'm a Weaver.
Speaker 1:And so you spend significant portions of your time teaching, but then also practicing the art yourself. Um, are those different things teaching versus, uh, weaving yourself? Yeah,
Speaker 2:Definitely. When I'm leaving myself, it's I do it more of by myself and I get in a zone and I just go and sometimes my cats like to come and play with me. But, um, when I'm teaching, it's a whole different thing because what I'm doing with of my hands is becomes more of a natural motion. And I just keep going, when I'm teaching, I have to stop and think about maybe how to verbalize it differently, depending on the different learners that we have within the classes and try to work with them so that they can understand and have that same, same idea of what's happening, uh, what they're weaving, whether they're creating a headband, a bracelet, a, a little pouch or something to really get a feel of it. So it is a whole different world, but seeing people learn something and achieve their, their, their goal with what their career is so empowering. And that's what really connects me with our youth ambassadors is because I get to see and watch them on their learning journey throughout the 14 weeks that they're with us. And they work in all the different areas. And I love teaching them how to do the wool weaving because it's not just, they're here for one session. We get to carry on with them throughout their time with us,
Speaker 1:Our podcast, the wizard podcast is, uh, audio only. Uh, but I wish people could have seen you when you were talking about getting in the zone and watching your hands, weave the air. It was fascinating just watching your hands move. It seems so natural. Um, so tell us about what's happening, uh, at the S LCC right now, you've talked to us about, uh, li living languages. You've talked to us a about the weaving lessons that people can be a part of. Um, tell us about the spa winter feast.
Speaker 2:Oh my goodness. So good. The food is just amazing. And our cultural performers share a bit of cultural knowledge through song dance and they're speaking. So it's just a magical experience for people to come in, get a taste of what our, our kitchen team does with influenced by our traditional menus and also with a modern flare and really connect with, with our cultural ambassadors and learn about our people and learn about our history and learn about the, with the food that's being shared at that time. Because depending on the time of year, you know, we have different salmon that come through our waterways. And it's really interesting that in our Squamish community, we have like, what is it, five different types of salmon coming through our waterways. So it's really cool to see the fishermen at the, at the rivers, not saying our fish come straight from the rivers, but, uh, just to make that connection and then how they really use berries during, during our spring and summer seasons, when they're really coming out and really juicy. So also the connection of people just being an, our space and absorbing this positive atmosphere is just amazing. So if people are interested, I believe we do have some spots still available, and that can be found on our website as well.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the, and it's a, I've heard I haven't been, but it is in our list of to-dos very shortly that it's great sort of night out with a couple friends. Like it's a really great place to go and sort of experience the culture of this area with other people.
Speaker 2:Exactly. We have our center open 10 o'clock till five o'clock each day. And a lot of people work and sometimes they prefer to go out later in the day, and this gives people an opportunity to really enjoy the atmosphere, um, after our regular daytime hours, you know, have a look at the exhibits and really just relax and absorb this good energy
Speaker 1:I all last year, the S LCC released a video that helps organizations deliver land acknowledgements. I had the privilege of, of being a part of that video, talk to us about land acknowledgements and why we do that, uh, in, in this community and why it's important.
Speaker 2:That's a great, great thing to bring up. Thank you so much for doing so. The whistle territory, hasn't always been Whistler in LOA. Uh, there's an area in and Squamish people we call squeak. Squeak comes from the Marmite that are found a lot in the area and like making that connection back to the language we call it squeak because the Marmite make a squeak. It sounds like them. So that's just a way to bring it back to the land. And our people use this area for hunting, fishing, uh, living like in the area of SPOs that I talked about spiritual practices. And so our people utilize this land in so many ways for so many generations. And the reason land acknowledgements are so important is to honor that connection and to honor our people who are indigenous to this land and still understand that even though, uh, we may use the land slightly different these days, it is still under our protection and our ownership and people are able to honor that by providing the line acknowledgements at conferences, at meetings at special events and all sorts of things to really honor our indigenous families that are from here.
Speaker 1:WEMA squeak.
Speaker 2:Very good.
Speaker 1:Yeah. All right. Cool. We're learning some language here today.
Speaker 3:I'm loving this so much. Uh, this whole conversation's great. Cause I was here when they first started putting up like the, the proper spelling from the squa on the signs. And I remember when I was a little kid and they first put'em up and I thought seven, and I'm so glad that I'm learning so much. And, uh, by the way, the event that we were talking about goes until may, May 23rd. So you got lots of time to get out there and learn, and I'm excited to do so myself.
Speaker 1:That's the living languages,
Speaker 3:Living languages. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Right. Look at this. Exactly. Alison we've got her. That's
Speaker 3:Why you got
Speaker 1:Producers department.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Um, so you have been with S LCC since it opened in 2008 being part of opening, the center must have been fascinating. What do you remember about opening the S LCC?
Speaker 2:One of my favorite stories is when the S LCC was still actually being bill. Uh, we were providing site tours and really getting familiar because I started working for the organization before the doors opened. So we did a lot of training down in Squamish. And when I applied, I actually didn't know that I was applying for a job that was in Whistler, living in north Vancouver, my whole life. So I was like, oh, OK. So we're like, then they told us we're gonna go check out the building. So I was like, oh cool. I wonder where we're going. And we just kept going up and up and up. And I was, wow, this place is amazing. And so that was a whole experience in its own, but we do, we do know how bears are always, you know, in our community and sharing the land with the bears. And when there was no windows and there wasn't many doors quite yet, there was a mama bear in their cup, came through the building and we took it as a good blessing that they, they wanted us here and on our territory. And I don't know what animal it is, but on our stairs heading from our great hall down to our cafe, you can see little footprints in the cement from that time is cold. So cute.
Speaker 1:Sorry, where that's on the stairwell from the upstairs to the down. Some like an animal walked down the stairs. Yeah. Isn't that cool. I am going to look for that next time. I'm there. Neat. Um, and when the, so the door opened before the happened, I didn't know that
Speaker 2:2008. Yeah. It's amazing. We wanted to make sure we were ready to welcome the world. Really?
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. You, you were also a part of the opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympics as a dance. And, um, I, a couple weeks ago, rewatched some of the opening ceremonies and you forget, I mean, I forgot with COVID what a full stadium like BC place looks like, and it's the, it's just a massive humanity. And it made me think, oh, when I talked to Allison, I, I want to ask her about that night. And what do you remember about it? Um, where were you, what was your role in the 2010? Um, opening ceremonies?
Speaker 2:Oh, that was one of the best parts of my life is being a part of that and really welcoming the world to, for the Olympics and the area we were secluded in Squamish for two weeks prior to the games, we did a lot of practicing, a lot of, uh, connecting with, I think it was 350 youth from across Canada. So we met so many different people, shared songs around fires, had meal, did a lot of practicing and it was so amazing. And when the actual gate, um, opening ceremonies took place, we had a lot of buses, those big, big tour buses for all of us. We went all the way down from Squamish to Vancouver. We got into the building through, you know, the side entrance and felt really like VIPs. And we got all of our regalia. We're feeling really powerful and we were getting ourselves amped up. It was just amazing. And so when we were on the, on the dance floor, there was tons of people dressed in white body suits. And so when I went back to rewatch, I kept trying to look for them because there was so many of'em, uh, to make sure everything was happening in a good way. And wow. I just remember being on the floor, looking around as I was dancing and feeling so intimidated by the size of everything, because I'm used to being in the bleachers, watching snow. So it was just so amazing, uh, Nelly for Tado. And I think it was Brian Adams, uh, did the, did the songs and wow. It was just so cool when we were doing our thing. And then once we were done, we had to rush right out of there. They, they were like, okay, come on, come on, come on. Um, because I guess there was so many moving parts and there was 350 of us. They really needed to make some space and get going. And then we actually went to chief Joe Maia center on Capano reserve in north Vancouver, but they weren't ready for us yet. So we actually had to circle around Stanley park with our big train of buses for a while, so that we could then go there and then watch the watch the replay of us. Uh, so it was just magical.
Speaker 1:Huh? That is such a good story. Thank you for telling that. So where can people find you if they wanna learn more about your work, more about your art, more about the S L C, C, uh, where should they go online and, and where else can they find your work?
Speaker 2:Amazing. So people can find me here at the S LCC. I'm generally here, Wednesdays and I work from home Thursdays, but I'm hoping to start working on site again more now that the restrictions are lifting. And then I'm usually here. Friday has been Saturdays. And since we did talk about the artwork, I also wanted to share that through COVID. It gave me that time to slow down and I actually picked up the needle and started beating. So I added that to my repertoire of skills, and that's one of my other newest passions creating bead work. And I created a Facebook page called Jos arts and crafts. So if people wanna see the kind of things that I make, you can go on Facebook, check it out. But other than that, come visit me here. Find us on the website, email me, let's chat. I could tell you anything. You wanna know,
Speaker 1:Amy, thank you for spending this time with us. It was fascinating. And we are so grateful for the work that you do in this community over a long period of time, your leadership here, your, your care for this place and for these people is outstanding. If I say, is that
Speaker 2:Pretty close,
Speaker 1:Great day? Well, Cole, I think you need to sign up, uh, for the weaving course.
Speaker 3:I I'm going through all the courses right now on their site. There's so many, uh, amazing courses you can do at the SCC. So yes, I think I gotta weave some wool. Uh, I gotta like carve some, some paddles. I gotta make some drums. It's all there. So
Speaker 1:You can take a, a, a, a drum making course.
Speaker 3:That's right. There's a, there's a drum making course that's happening on March 20th. You can go there. Ha. Yeah,
Speaker 1:I did not know that.
Speaker 3:So now there, we, now we do, you can, yeah. There's lots of stuff that you can, uh, go there and take courses on. So,
Speaker 1:And what's the URL of that website called
Speaker 3:That is scc.ca also slash SCC events, but you can just go to the front page and you'll find it all.
Speaker 1:Yeah. And the SPO as, uh, winter feast is like right there in big letters. Yeah. Yeah. I, I go, go, go, everybody, sign up for the spa winter feast. Yeah. Once don't you take away that conversation.
Speaker 3:I really, so I, I really enjoy, uh, hearing the sort of conversation about, uh, language and how the languages of the nations, you know, go back to the land that they're from. I thought that was really cool. And I looked into that, um, that course too, that she mentioned from SFU where they, they kind of take you through a bunch of the languages sort indigenous nations throughout BC. And I think that's really cool. I think that like growing up in Squamish, I wish that they kind of gave some more attention to that to us in school. Um, because I think that'd be really cool. Cause like I said, when they brought those signs in and we had no idea what I had no idea that Squamish was, you know, not the original word, like not how it's supposed to be said and, and learning it now. And then same with the, the squeak or like I see that sign all the time. Like how does that say Whistler? It doesn't. Yeah, it doesn't. Yeah. So like, I feel like that'd be something cool that like, you know, have the, have some nation leaders talk to, to kids. Cause I would've loved to learn that as a kid. It's very, very cool.
Speaker 1:Yeah. I've been trying to use those words squeak and more often. Cause that's the name of this place. Yeah. Um, and yeah, it was interesting to hear about the, uh, sharpness in the, uh, language connecting to the sharpness in the, the geography. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah. The culture and the way that all that all intertwines to the land is. So, um, it's just so fascinating and I think it's something we could all learn, which we can, by the way, The CC till May 23rd,
Speaker 1:You, uh, I, I, you sound like you should consider voiceover maybe radio. You could be like a, a, a DJ.
Speaker 3:I'll give it a try. Let's try it out. Let's see how it works. All right.
Speaker 1:Sounds good. You're very good at promoting things. Yeah. Uh, I just want to give another big, thank you to Allison burns Joseph. I encourage everyone. Get out to the S L C C learn, learn about this place. Learn about WEMA, uh, its history, its people, its language. Again. As Cole said until May 23rd, you can see living languages. Please do it. Remember to share your questions and comments with Cole and I, I am at facebook.com/mayor Jack Crompton, and you can find Cole anywhere. Good radio is played. This was the Whistler podcast brought to you by the resort, municipality, Whistler and mountain FM. Thanks for listening.