In 2018 WFN put out an RFP request for proposals from Okanagan/syilx artists to create a large mural depicting Okangan/syilx culture and history, with a connection to travel and trade. The artwork or mural will be located at the new U-Haul location on Old Okanagan Highway in Westbank BC.

​

U-Haul had just recently opened its business located on WFN reserve lands (3571 Old Okanagan Hwy) and had expressed an eagerness to reflect there new relationship with WFN through providing space to have syilx / Okanagan artwork depicted on the external wall of its leased building. The area where the building is located has been a central location for travel, trade and interactions for countless generations predating settlement in our territory. The business location parallels what is now known as Old Okanagan Hwy. Prior to this recognition the travelling route was a main passage corridor for syilx / Okanagan people travelling up and down the valley harvesting resources and conducting trade with neighbouring First Nation people. The trail was first referred to as N'kwala's Trail and has undergone many transformations over generations including serving later as the Fur Brigade Trail, the Main Street for Westbank in its early stages of development, and today, serving as a recognized corridor used to connect residential areas to Hwy 97.

​

Due to unforeseen circumstances the scope of the project had to be revised to suite the limitations that we had with installing aluminum panels onto the outside of the building. We finally agreed to create the artwork on 3 large 5' x 10' canvases and then later transferred the images onto vinyl banner.