Coast Salish Artwork Shines
Neptune Terminals’ operations and administrative office are located on the unceded ancestral lands of the Coast Salish people, specifically the Squamish ($Skwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw$), Tsleil-Waututh ($səlilwətaɬ$) and Musqueam ($xʷməθkʷəy̓əm$) Nations.
As part of our ongoing efforts to listen, learn and foster reconciliation, we invited renowned Indigenous artist Xwalacktun to paint a mural in our Forester Street location on the North Shore. The mural honour the history of the land and the First Nations who are our neighbours, with a wolf representing the Tsleil-Waututh, a thunderbird symbolizing the Squamish, and cedar branches from the cedar brushing ceremony, a tradition of cleansing and protection.
We were fortunate enough to have Xwalacktun speak to our team for this year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation about the meaning behind the mural he painted. Xwalacktun joined us to share stories and bless the artwork with the Snowbird Song. The visual in the Neptune office reminds each of us on a daily basis to reflect on our role in reconciliation.