The Project

For ten years, thousands of people – artists, loggers, government officials, tourists, youth at risk, families, and children – made the journey from Vancouver to Sims Creek in the Elaho Valley, as participants in the Uts’am/Witness project. These weekend journeys to threatened areas of “wilderness”, hosted by Squamish Nation Hereditary Chief Bill Williams, telasemkin-siyam, brought people into direct contact with ceremony and with nature; with Squamish stories, dance, games, art, and opportunities to hear from elders, scientists, conservationists, and artists from native and non-native traditions.

HOW IT BEGAN

In 1996, the Randy Stoltmann Wilderness Area (named by WCWC) was threatened by logging. Environmental activists who wanted to protect the area found the need to consult the Squamish Nation and its claims, history & stewardship of the Elaho Valley. It’s a remote area and difficult to reach. Only experience of the land will lead people to protect it. They required knowledge of its history, its place in indigenous culture, its geology, plant life, animals... All of which led to building bridges between indigenous and settler cultures, city and rural people, elders and youngsters, scientists and artists, loggers and activists, and to vehicles working their way up the long logging road to Sims Creek every summer.