A work of art in the Vedder bridge roundabout prominently displays the Halq’eméylem words “Ey kwesé é mi,” meaning “It’s good that you are here…welcome” in Hope artist Bonny Graham’s Coast Salish font. Graham worked together with Squiala First Nation Chief David Jimmie to bring to life the art piece. (Jenna Hauck/ The Progress.
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Vedder Roundabout – Chilliwack BC, Canada – Public Art Piece
It was a great honour to have worked in collaboration with many talented people to bring about the Vedder Road Roundabout Public Art Piece. It is a community representation of unification and took three years from concept to unveiling. As the artist and working through the succession of ideas and logistics it was an experience I thoroughly enjoyed. I love its beauty and knowing the vast number who drive by it and are reminded of our deep Indigenous roots and community connections.
Information kiosk excerpt: Vedder Roundabout Public Art Partnership
The Vedder Road Roundabout Art Project was a public art partnership between the City of Chilliwack and the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe with the support from Stó:lō Nation to celebrate the history of the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and Stó:lō Nation in the spirit of reconciliation and remembrance. The art sculpture features a traditional Stó:lō/ Coast Salish canoe on top of the upper ring, suppored by eight traditional paddles.
‘Éy kwesé e’mi’: Welcome ~ It is good that you are here.
The silver ring: “Unification” designed by Bon Graham [b.wyse}, in respect to the collaborative efforts and brings together the traditional canoe and paddles, united and moving through the abundant waters of the Stó:lō Territory, celebrating the return of the Sacred Salmon and seasons of renewal, fertility and prosperity.
The ring also features the Halq’eméylem phrase (in the language of the Stó:lō people) “Éy kwesé é mi”, along with its English translation “Welcome – It is good that you are here. Of the eight paddles which support the upper ring and canoe structure, seven will hold emblems that represent the seven Ts’elxwéyeqw communities and one will hold the City of Chilliwack logo. The seven communities and their logos are identified below. Completing the project will be landscaping that reflects the natural Vedder River vegetation. The art piece was designed by Squiala First Nation Chief David Jimmie and artist, Bon Graham, [b.wyse] (Stó:lō/Snunéymuxw), in consultation with the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe and the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs Council and with the support from the Chilliwack Public Art Advisory Committee and City Council.
Still Standing – CBC – January 4th TV episode Hope B.C.
It was quite the experience to meet Jonny Harris and the crew of the CBC show Still Standing. I had been in conversation with one of the research team, David Kerr, months prior to discuss the idea of being one of the segments in the show and worked with David throughout their visit for locations and directions around Hope. They came to Hope in the midst of heat wave (40 degree days!), which was very unprecedented in our area. My husband (and chef) and myself, met them as they arrived for a meal at our newly launched Reimer’s Food Truck.
Sonny McHalsie and myself work together delivering cultural tours of the territory (I tell him where to go and how to get there… (our standing joke) We were asked to meet with Jonny and talk about some of the areas Halq’emeylem Placenames (Ts’qo:ls – Hope BC – means bare and bald and is in reference to the one side of our trees having few branches in response to the heavy and constant winds that set upon our little town. It would be the view as you approach from the river) We met at my friend Deb’s beautiful property along the Fraser River. (Sto:lo: people of the River, so very fitting) The view is breathtaking and a great showcase of our towns mountainous and natural beauty. We were mic’d up and at times forgot we were being recorded and Sonny and I went on about our normal banter. When the conversation moved to discussing the Halq’emeylem language and its threat of extinction, I mentioned that I invented a Coast Salish font to preserve the language through art. It took two years to develop each letter of the language in (2007-2009) (There are 18 letters in the Halq’emeylem language) and completed all the letters of the English alphabet in 2020. My art is available in town at a nearby grocery store (Buy-Low Foods) and the crew took the time to go take a shot to feature on the show.
As part of the their visit to town, Jonny performs a wrap up comedic act for an audience of participants and local people who were part of the production. Due to Covid restrictions, the numbers in attendance were limited and it was set up in an outdoor tent; but the winds were very strong and put the tent to test on a few occasions!
Jonny was hilarious! He covered Hope’s history, geography, logging, the Coquihalla highway, Search and Rescue, demo derby, our numerous hotels and gas stations and I felt he did a great job to include the unique and friendly community I am happy to call my hometown. As Jonny worked through the people featured on the show, he mentioned Sonny and myself and our role in Indigenous tours as well as my art and that I’d invented a font. In wrap up to our segment he says… “Bonny is obviously good with characters!…” and points at Sonny. We both had a good laugh and the whole show was hilarious. He is a very talented host, the crew was so professional and friendly and it was such a great experience I’m happy to have had.