Join the Aboriginal Gathering Place for an artist discussion exploring how Indigenous artists use public art to transform shared spaces and assert Indigenous presence and sovereignty.
Featuring contemporary artists James Harry and Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun, and moderated by Salia Joseph, the conversation will explore public art, place, storytelling, visual language, and the ways artists bring cultural knowledge and presence into public spaces.
About the Guest Speakers
James Nexw’Kalus-Xwalacktun Harry is a contemporary Coast Salish artist from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation, with Namgis heritage.
Working across carving, painting, metalwork, digital media and public art, James explores Coast Salish design through a contemporary lens. His site-specific practice is deeply informed by land and landscape, bringing Indigenous stories, visual language and presence into public and architectural spaces.
A graduate of ECU, James continues to explore how art can shape the places we live.
Eliot White-Hill, Kwulasultun is a Coast Salish and Nuu Chah Nulth artist from Snuneymuxw First Nation, with family roots in Hupacasath and Penelakut.
His interdisciplinary practice includes digital art, painting, sculpture, public installation and curation, with a focus on carrying forward the stories and teachings passed down through his family. Eliot’s work explores the relationship between traditional Coast Salish visual language and contemporary life, creating space for Indigenous stories, and presence to be seen in new ways.
He holds a BA in Liberal Studies and Philosophy from Vancouver Island University and an MFA from ECU.
Salia Joseph is a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, Snuneymuxw, British and Jewish artist, musician and language learner based in Vancouver.
She is co-owner of Host Consulting Inc., a Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh consultancy focused on public art and elevating the work and designs of Indigenous artists. She is also the Executive Director of The Sníchim Foundation, a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh non-profit focused on language revitalization and immersion-based learning.
Salia is a singer with An̓ usáyum̓ (Two Berries) and Ta Na Wa Káwstem, and continues her learning journey in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh language and Salish wool weaving.