The triptych painting, “Temíxw,” was created through an artist residency offered by the Squamish Nation Language, Art, and Culture Department with funding received from the First People’s Cultural Foundation in 2017. The artist, Chief Ian Campbell, followed traditional protocols by calling witnesses at an unveiling ceremony held at the Museum of Vancouver on December 13, 2019.

“Temíxw” translates as “land, earth, dirt,” but this vibrant painting contains much more than local geography. A diversity of stories, important places, and traditional knowledge taught to Chief Ian Campbell by his Squamish and Musqueam family members, and other elders from his community, animate this map.

On October 28, 2020, Chief Campbell selected several stories, which he deemed appropriate for sharing with museum visitors and local educators, to create an online program. We thank Chief Ian Campbell for his generosity.

We would also like to remind museum visitors that while we have been invited to listen to these stories, they do not belong to us, and we are not meant to tell them ourselves.

Sxwexwiỳáḿ | Nexwsyetsem

Mythology | History