Our Community

Contact: PAC Chair  |  T 778 755 2787  |  Email

The Westbank First Nation Public Art Committee (PAC) established the WFN Public Art Program in September 2014. The Program is a collaborative, collective, creative process between WFN, practicing artists, and community members. Public art creatively addresses the needs and aspirations of the WFN community while also acknowledging WFN and syilx/Okanagan heritage.

The PAC promotes syilx culture through the arts; provides advice and supports activities that advance public art; and administers a selection process for commissioning and/or purchasing public art

List of public art

Public Art Committee

The Public Art Committee:

  • promotes syilx culture and living history through the arts;
  • provides advice and supports activities that advance public art; and
  • administers the selection process for commissioning and/or purchasing public art.

Vision: Promote syilx culture through the encouragement of local artists and the display of art throughout the community, both on and off reserve.

Other initiatives

  • An exhibit at the Kelowna International Airport Banners along Lakeshore Road in Kelowna
  • Installation of a Grizzly Bear lights statue at Stewart Park, which recognizes the syilx meaning of Kelowna
  • Installation of a Grizzly Bear sculpture at Big White Ski Resort (2015)
  • Installation of the Chief Sookinchute bronze sculpture at Kelowna City Park (coming soon), to compliment the Father Pandosy sculpture. This project was the catalyst for creating the WFN Public Art Committee

Interpretive trail signs

Since 2014, WFN and the Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) have worked together to develop public awareness about syilx heritage. One initiative includes the installation of interpretive signs along park trails at Glen Canyon, Kalamoir, Rose Valley, and sntsk'il'ntən (Black Mountain). The new signs acknowledge the cultural significance of the lands and share the nsyilxcen translation of the trail names. For example, "Bitterroot" is “spitƛ̓əm” in nsyilxcen. The cost of this project was paid for by the RDCO.