Publications
The ceremonies saw the first use of UBC Okanagan's own university mace, a symbol of authority of the Chancellor. The new Okanagan mace was created by First Nations artist Sheldon Louis of the Okanagan Indian Band.
Created by First Nations artist Sheldon Louis of the Okanagan Indian Band, the University Mace is carved from a single piece of alder wood, and combines Okanagan Nation traditions with university customs. The main art work on the Mace features three symbolic spirit icons – a mother bear with her two cubs, the image of the mountains, and water – given to UBC’s Okanagan campus in 2005 by the Okanagan Nation elders.
Local First Nations artists have donated their creative artwork to three Interior hospitals, as a way of representing the traditional and modern Syilx experience in the Okanagan territory, and to allow both First Nations and non-Aboriginal people alike to feel comfortable and welcomed when visiting the hospital.
On Wednesday, October 7th, member of the Okanagan Indian Band Sheldon Pierre Louis debuted his one-of-a-kind piece to an eager crowd at the Kelowna General Hospital.
Local youth highlight the four food chiefs — the black bear, bitter root, salmon and the Saskatoon berries. A critical part of Okanagan culture is being celebrated. The N’kmaplqs mural has been unveiled at the Okanagan Indian Band’s health building and it highlights the four food chiefs — the black bear, bitter root, salmon and the Saskatoon berries. “They are part of stories about life lessons,” said artist Sheldon Louis
A colourful mural called the 'Four Food Chiefs' has been unveiled on Okanagan Indian Band land near Vernon.
Sheldon Louis, a 36-year-old Syilx artist, designed the giant art piece and mentored four youths during the painting of the mural, on the outside of the Community Services and Development building on Head of the Lake Road.
Sheldon Louis’ exhibition of paintings tells the story of the Columbia River stewardship in not so distant history and its impact on the First Nations’ traditional fish harvesting sights, culturally important gathering places and trade.
Kelowna Senior Secondary Grade 12 Honors Art Students have a unique opportunity to create a mural exploring the subject of Settler/Indigenous relations. Last Friday the art class listened to Syilx artist Sheldon Louis and Syilx activist Dixon Terbasket speak about the impact of colonialism on Indigenous culture, and the resilience of Indigenous people. The discussion will help inform the students’ vision for the mural. The entire mural process will be led by Mr. Louis, who has been involved in the creation of murals in the past, and is enjoying the recent success of a sold-out exhibition of his paintings at the Rotary Centre for the Arts.
Grade 12 art students at Kelowna Senior Secondary have been hard at work on an intercultural mural. "The idea behind it was to create an educational piece to showcase some of the truths behind the culture of First Nations people," said lead artist Sheldon Louis, a local First Nation member. About 20 students from the honours art class have worked on sections of the massive mural for several months.
The mural “Lifeline – Sqilxw Resilience”, created by Syilx artist Sheldon Louis and Tim Mayer’s Kelowna Senior Secondary Honors 12 Art Students, is now on exhibit in the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art’s window space, until July 3.
The District of Lake Country Mayor and Council were very pleased to attend a phenomenal display of Okanagan Art at our small gallery in Lake Country on Bottom Wood Lake Road. The show was arranged by the hard work of our local Public Art Gallery in collaboration with a number of Okanagan Artists.
The works exhibited were very diverse in the mediums used to create them. There were works of art formed from leather, antler, bone, feathers, charcoal, paint and plants. The Okanagan Nations have used the land for thousands of years and the natural materials are integral to their culture, as are the stories told in the gathering and use of natural materials for utilitarian, ceremonial or artistic purposes.
We want to thank all those who contributed towards bringing this gift to Lake Country.
~ James Baker Mayor
June 2009
UBC Okanagan’s University Mace is used for the first time at Convocation. Created by Syilx artists Sheldon Louis and Justin Terbasket, the Mace features the three symbolic spirit icons and combines Okanagan Nation traditions with university customs.
Sheldon Louis told his family he wanted to be an artist after attending an exhibit at Head-of-the-Lake at the age of six.
A member and elected councillor of the Okanagan Indian Band (OKIB), Louis grew up on the reserve and was mentored in art by his father throughout his life in many mediums and always encouraged his love of arts. Through his teens into adulthood, as a distraction and to numb the pain of the socioeconomic impacts of the reservation system, family breakdown and societal unrest, Louis turned to alcohol and drugs. Recognizing these coping mechanisms were unhealthy, he vowed to get sober, reaching his goal about six years ago. A turning point in his life. He became immersed in his artwork and galleries took notice.
"As Syilx people, a lot of times people don’t realize that we have a number of communities throughout the nation here, so initially I wanted to show that we were still here. It was supposed to be a village scene of a lot of traditional activities and because of COVID, it changed, so what I did was I took a contemporary approach to it.
"I really wanted to show today, what we look like today being here, because we tend to blend in a little more. People unfortunately assume that we still live in those old age times and live in that way, so I wanted to really showcase that our culture is still alive and vibrant today in a contemporary context. Rethinking it, I really looked at the youth, knowing that the youth are really bringing back a lot of our cultural practices. The younger generation is learning from our older generation and they’re really carrying it forward."
Despite the decrease in foot traffic travelling through the airport security gates these days due to the pandemic, Louis says the exhibition is already making tracks online.
In his painting series puti kʷala – we are still here, interdisciplinary artist Sheldon Pierre Louis creates vibrant portraits that celebrate the beauty of the syilx/Okanagan Nation’s history and culture.
These colourful multi-layered canvases are rich with intricate filigree patterns and incorporate a mix of traditional and contemporary imagery. In them, we see generational snapshots — a grandfather teaching his granddaughter how to dig, two nieces posing for the camera, and a young girl with her drum.
Sheldon Pierre Louis is a member of the syilx Nation, a Councillor at Okanagan Indian Band, and a community leader whose work is influenced by his ancestral roots. He mentors youth from his own and surrounding communities and takes joy in the mutual inspiration fostered through these collaborations.
Sheldon Pierre Louis: puti kʷala – we are still here
at the Kelowna Art Gallery’s offsite exhibition space at the Kelowna International Airport (YLW)
Kelowna-based artist Sheldon Pierre Louis is the creative force behind a series of new paintings on view at the Kelowna International Airport.
The exhibition is titled puti kʷala – we are still here and features six colourful multi-layered portraits that celebrate the beauty of the syilx/Okanagan Nation’s history and culture.
The ‘puti kʷala – we are still here’ exhibit will be at YLW from now until July 2021. Louis will speak about his practice and current installation during a virtual talk, which will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 1 from noon to 1 p.m. Louis’ talk will be broadcast as part of the ‘LunchBox Lectures’, a partnership between the Kelowna Art Gallery, Sncəwips Heritage Museum, and Kelowna Museums.
Kelowna-based artist Sheldon Pierre Louis is the creative force behind a series of new paintings on view at the Kelowna International Airport. The exhibition is titled puti kwala — we are still here, and features six colourful, multi-layered portraits that celebrate the the syilx/Okanagan Nation’s history, culture and people. The paintings can be seen just before the security screening area near the departure gates.
In his painting series puti kʷala – we are still here, interdisciplinary artist Sheldon Pierre Louis creates vibrant portraits that celebrate the beauty of the syilx/Okanagan Nation’s history and culture. Presented at the Kelowna Art Gallery’s satellite space at YLW.
Kelowna International Airport, Kelowna, British Columbia —
Opening an art installation in the middle of a pandemic (how do you paint when canvasses can’t be delivered due to Covid‑19 protocols?) wasn’t easy, but the new exhibit in the Kelowna Art Gallery satellite space at Kelowna International Airport was worth the effort. Brightly coloured canvases with images depicting people in artist Sheldon Pierre Louis’ syilx/Okanagan Nation community welcome, and inspire, travellers at the start of their journeys. Entitled puti kʷala – we are still here, the exhibit features multi‑layered canvases showcasing various generations and is a powerful, uplifting celebration of history and culture.
Sheldon Pierre Louis is a member of the syilx Nation, a Councillor at Okanagan Indian Band, and a community leader whose work is influenced by his ancestral roots. He mentors youth from his own and surrounding communities and takes joy in the mutual inspiration fostered through these collaborations.
Si vous partez en vacances à Kelowna en avion cet été, où bien si vous prévoyez de vous rendre à l'aéroport international de Kelowna, une nouvelle exposition vous y attend.
Organisée par la Kelowna Art Gallery, l'exposition Sheldon Pierre Louis: puti kʷala – we are still here, présente une série de nouvelles peintures de l'artiste syilx, basé à Kelowna, Sheldon Pierre Louis.
An Okanagan artist’s colourful portraits are now gracing the walls of the Kelowna International Airport (YLW).
Kelowna-based artist Sheldon Pierre Louis’ exhibit, titled ‘puti kʷala – we are still here’, features six vibrant multi-layered portraits that celebrate Syilx history and culture.
As part of its commitment to building an inclusive culture at Rogers that celebrates the diversity of every one of its team members, Rogers has opened a unique meeting room inside its brand-new Customer Solution Centre in Kelowna called the Downie-Wenjack Legacy Space. In partnership with the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund, the space is dedicated to raising awareness and understanding of Indigenous art, history, and culture, with our teams and community members. By the end of 2021, there will be more than 350 new Rogers employees in Kelowna, with the new site opening its doors when safe to do so. “This space will support increased employment opportunities for the greater community, while also recognizing the importance of honouring Syilx Indigenous heritage, culture, and art,” says Chief Christopher Derickson, Westbank First Nation. “I look forward to seeing the benefits that result from the Downie-Wenjack Indigenous Legacy Program within our community, and its continued extension across Canada.”
If you’re looking to add a splash of colour in your day, head into Rutland to check out the Uptown Rutland Business Association's (URBA) Mural Project, which includes one of the most recent mural additions, puti kʷala – we are still here, by syilx artist, Sheldon Pierre Louis
Kelowna-based artist Sheldon Pierre Louis is the creative force behind a series of new paintings on view at the Kelowna International Airport. The exhibition titled puti kʷala – we are still here features six colourful multi-layered portraits that celebrate the beauty of the syilx/Okanagan Nation’s history and culture. The paintings are rich with intricate filigree patterns and incorporate a mix of traditional and contemporary imagery. In them, we see generational snapshots — a grandfather teaching his young granddaughter how to plant seeds; two nieces snapping a selfie; and a boy proudly showing off the prize-sized fish he caught. The portraits reveal a glimpse into the artist’s own extended family life, but viewers will no doubt find pieces that resonate with their own. puti kʷala – we are still here can be seen just before the security screening area near the departure gates in the Kelowna Art Gallery’s offsite exhibition space at YLW. It opens July 8 and will remain on view until July of 2021.
Sheldon Pierre Louis, a member of the Okanagan/Syilx Nation, is a multi disciplinary Okanagan/Syilx Artist. Sheldon’s ancestral roots have influenced his works in painting, drawing, carving, and sculpting. Sheldon sits on the board of directors for the Arts Council of the North Okanagan in his second term as well sits at the Board for the Greater Vernon Museum and Archives.