Feature Exhibit
11 MAY – FEBRUARY 2025
snəxʷəł: an art exhibit by Zoe George
Mekwalya (Zoe George) brings Coast Salish Canoe Culture to the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
The Vancouver Maritime Museum is delighted to announce their latest exhibition from local səlil ̕wətaʔɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh artist, Zoe George. Titled snəxʷəł which means ‘canoe’ in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, the exhibition will be displaying traditional canoes, paddles, photographs and a video on the importance of canoe culture.
Visitors will discover the beautiful history of canoeing and learn about some of the cultural traditions of the səlil ̕wətaʔɬ people.
A NOTE FROM THE ARTIST:
My name is Zoe Juliette George, and my Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ancestral name is Mekwalya. I am a səlil ̕wətaʔɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh person. I have created a canoe exhibit, titled snəxʷəł (“canoe” in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓) that will be here at the Maritime Museum from May 11th- November 2024. Canoe culture is a big part of many Indigenous communities across the world and this is no different for First Nations people in B.C. Canoe transportation and war canoe racing have taken place here in Vancouver since time immemorial. I want to share some of the traditional səlil ̕wətaʔɬ aspects of that. This project/exhibit came about from a research grant that I received a couple of years ago. I chose to focus on canoeing because it is an important part of my life, as it is for many other First Nations people. From March until September I canoe and war canoe race anywhere from five to six days a week. My səlil ̕wətaʔɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ancestors have kept canoeing alive and I wish to continue this on. I want people to come to this exhibit and understand the importance and presence canoe culture has in First Nations communities across the Lower Mainland.
Vancouver Maritime Museum’s Curator, Ermen DelliCarpini: “I am so excited that the Vancouver Maritime Museum has the opportunity to display the work of Zoe George and to share her show, snəxʷəɬ, which is the hən̓q̓əm̓in̓əm̓ word for canoe, with the many communities that we welcome into the museum. The VMM is honored that we have the opportunity to share a piece of the rich, ongoing history and tradition of canoe culture and war canoe racing in səlilwət (Burrard Inlet) with our visitors.”
We are so thrilled to have this exhibit at the Vancouver Maritime Museum.