Canoe Cultures

Join us in Ocean Artworks while Carvers from Squamish, Musqueam and Snuneymuxw First Nations honour the strong cultural connection the canoe has to the lands and the waters. Carvers will be working on their newest design, a cedar strip family canoe. They will also be working on paddles and other associated art work. The experience of crafting a dugout from a massive single red cedar log or red cedar strip is a rare opportunity as there are few canoe carvers left in Canada to pass the knowledge on to their communities. As part of the Canoe Culture Program, Lead Carver Mike Billy Sr. addresses the cultural transmission of Indigenous knowledge from one generation to the next. Artists include Mike Billy, Michael Billy, Barrett Martin, and Alvin Martin Jr. Click here to find out more about the artists.