Welcome to the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre.
The Squamish and Lil’wat Nations have coexisted respectfully as neighbors since time immemorial. We have thrived on the bounty of the ocean, the rivers, and the land — living in close relationship with the world around us. Our cultures are grounded in rich, ancient traditions, and continue to grow and evolve in a modern world.
We have built the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre (SLCC) to share our cultural knowledge to inspire understanding and respect amongst all people , and we hope that by visiting our Cultural Centre, that you will embrace this vision and live by it.
Our people have treated the site with respect, building on the northern side of the property — leaving the forested area mostly untouched. The building is designed to evoke the longhouses of our Squamish people and the Istken (traditional earthen pit house) of our Lil’wat people with a modern architectural interpretation.
In 1997 the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW) met with the Lil’wat Nation to consult about opportunities for the Nation’s participation and presence in Whistler BC. Out of these discussions, the idea of a world-class cultural centre was born and a relationship in the spirit of goodwill and cooperation evolved.
Mindful of the historic precedence of shared lands and the overlapping interests in land stewardship, the Lil’wat Nation met with the Squamish Nation in 1999 to discuss land use and planning in areas of traditional territory overlap. As a result, in 2001 the two Nations signed a historic Protocol Agreement, which formalized our mutual relationship. This Protocol Agreement commits us to continued co-operation in matters of cultural and economic development, and co-management of shared territory. The only agreement of its kind in Canada, the Protocol Agreement, formalized our mutual relationship.
Our Cultural Centre, located in beautiful Whistler BC, embodies the spirit of partnership between two unique Nations who wish to preserve, grow and share our traditional cultures. It stands as testimony to our proud heritage — from time immemorial to the present.
For more information on the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations, visit our Nations’ websites at www.squamish.net and www.lilwat.ca.
