This mural was created by Contemporary Coast Salish artist Carman McKay, based on stories about the Katzie Slough and the broader Katzie territories as told by Elder Rick Bailey. Art created by students ages 5 to 12, who visited the slough and learned from Elder Rick, also guided the creation of the mural. We invite you to engage with these stories by clicking on different aspects of the mural, and consider the connections between the stories, the mural and the children’s art. What are you noticing? How are you affected by the art? How might they connect to the stories shared by Elder Rick?
The q̓íc̓əy̓ Slough is a 10-kilometre channel of water that runs between the Pitt and Fraser Rivers, in what is colonially known as the Pitt Meadows, British Columbia. Prior to contact, the Slough was a tidal wetland connected to three rivers that sustained a diverse ecosystem. It was a land of abundance until it was the area was diked over 100 years ago to create farmland for settlers. Current flood control measures in the area impede the flow of water, which is now mostly stagnant, polluted, and overrun by invasive species. Elder Rick Bailey from Katzie First Nation encourages us all to learn about the history of the Slough, to understand the current environmental challenges, and to work collaboratively to imagine and enact new futures for the slough and her inhabitants.
Kids Art
