These large-scale window decals span three windows of the Squamish Adventure Centre and feature imagery inspired by the lands, waters, and wildlife of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh territory.
The designs depict eagles, salmon, bears, and orcas—each carrying cultural significance and reflecting connections between the land, water, animals, and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh people. Eagles are associated with prayer and blessings, while the arrival of orcas can signal abundance and the return of salmon and herring to local waters.
Rendered in black, red, and white—the colours of the Squamish Nation—the decals draw on Coast Salish artistic traditions.
My name is Siobhan Joseph. I am a Squamish Nation member, and I’m a Coast Salish Artist.
I take pride in doing Coast Salish artwork because it’s actually a revival art within the Squamish Nation.
I used to help my father paint his carvings when I was a teenager, and that was how I would spend time with my dad because he was always busy carving, providing for the family.
I did three designs for the Adventure Center. I think what came to mind was to do designs that reflects the Squamish territory.
Sea to sky, the orcas, the salmon, the bears, and the eagles.
We pray to the eagles when they’re flying above. We believe that when we pray, we’re giving the eagles our prayer, and the eagles bring our prayer to the creator.
And when they fly over us, it’s a blessing.
Orcas are kind of a similar belief when they come up here. It’s like something good is going to happen, or a belief or it’s like a blessing.
And it’s also when they come up here, we know when the salmon or even the herring are running.
Red is a medicine color, sacred color. And we use red through other ceremonies and it’s a very sacred, powerful color.
But Squamish nation colors are black, red, and white.
It’s an honour to have my artwork put up where I’m from. And just to represent Squamish Nation and my family.”
Siobhan Joseph is a Squamish Nation artist who has been steadily building her reputation as a muralist and painter. She describes her paintings as a reflection of both “traditional” styles of the Indigenous peoples of the Northwest coast of British Columbia and more “realistic” portrayals of animals.
