Sacred Rock/ Honouring Our Grandmothers Healing Journey Initiative presents:

"DOWNSTREAM WHERE THE WATERS MEET"
This initiative was a collaboration with other Artists to create artistic representations of the teachings from our grandmothers and the knowledge we have gained along the way in the form of painted cedar bentwood chests that will carry messages of healing. Lead and curated by visionary artist Nadine Spence,  these bentwood chests will be displayed in different Museums and Galleries over the years and is currently being exhibited in the New West Museum and Archives until December 2024.

​For more information on the Honouring Our Grandmothers Healing Journey, visit the Sacred Rock website:
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Updates on the progress of this initiative can be found on the Honouring our Grandmother's Healing Journey Instagram page

Vanessa Serroul's Bentwood Cedar Chest and Story

"Leq'à:leqel Míxalh"

   ​The Artwork on the red and yellow cedar Bentwood Chest tells a story of a journey down the Fraser River to the mouth of the Pacific Ocean. It represents the Land around us, from lakes, rivers mountains, grasslands and even the animals.
The cedar used for the chest was given by Mother Earth, who we need to protect and preserve in return.
During my journey from birth, the Fraser River has always been my home, flowing by my side, like it has done so for many generations of my Grandmothers before me. Where water flows, cedar grows and cedar is an important resource in our traditions and culture. It is used in many ways including the creation of this chest.
Each panel of the chest contains a scene of mountains, trees, and waterways that wrap around the box in a smooth flowing motion. It reflects the Mountains and the River that guided me along my journey.
On each end of the box is a representation of the salmon cycle and their journey to the ocean and back. Salmon is just as important to our traditions and culture as cedar and we need to ensure the conservation and preservation of these and much more for the generations that come after us. 
The Artwork around the chest is a combination of mediums for both the top piece (the lid) and the bottom piece (the box) which includes a variety of acrylic paints from matte to glossy, textured, holographic and pearlescent. Metallic water colours were used in the designs on the side panels and modelling paste was used to create texture for the snow-capped mountains all around the box. Resin was used on the lid to create the effect of the lakes rivers and oil sands. The mediums I have used almost contradict what the artwork on the chest stands for and is an example of how we have lost some of our teachings such as what type of mediums were used by our ancestors? It’s so easy to lose our traditional ways when materials become so readily available to us and we forget to be more resourceful and to take only what we need.
Leq'à:leqel Míxalh (Pronounced Leh-kal-leh-kel May-huth) means ( (Journey of the Bear) in two different dialects. I chose this title to reflect the traditional dialects of the two places I have and still call home. My journey from my birth place, Xwísten to where I live today, Máthxwi.
In Halqemaylem which is the Language spoken by the people of Máthxwi and the communities of the Upper Stó:lō - Leq'à:leqel, means to go on a journey, and in St̓át̓imcets, the language of the Xwísten people and of the Upper St'át'imc - Míxalh (May-huth) means Bear.