For the past two years, we have been recording the Quw’utsun’ Cultural Connections Elders’ life stories and cultural teachings. These video and audio recordings will contribute to different multi-media arts and culture legacy projects for future generations, including Thu-it and a Xpey’ animation project.

 

Thu-it [Truth] is a multi-media, immersive installation version of the Journey of our Generation work. Stories are shared in both a walk-through multimedia timeline exhibit and a 3-hour digital media immersive experience. The exhibit launched in the fall of 2022 with its first run in the Cowichan valley. The 3-hour blended experiential and multi-media immersive experience to deepen their knowledge and understanding of the impacts of both western and Indigenous world views and systems, history, present and future.

​

Two young Indigenous adults came on board in the spring of 2022 to contribute significantly to the design and test run of Thu-it at the Cowichan Valley Arts Council studio in Duncan. Since the launch, they have been involved in broadening the reach of the stories and incorporating further historical research for the next version of the exhibit that will be hosted on Saltspring Island. In 2023, they have also been designing and developing a series of animation shorts to share cultural teachings and stories about Xpey’ (cedar).

​

Our long term vision is that Thu-it [Truth] will have a permanent location in our region and will also become a travelling exhibit that can incorporate local Indigenous Elders’ stories, teachings and history. We are currently looking for a permanent facility for the exhibit in the Cowichan valley that will house the Thu-it installation, a gallery, a youth hub for creating and developing art, film and media with a dedicated gallery, a carving shed, community gathering space and accommodations for visiting artist and workshop participants.

 

An online database of video, audio and written stories related to X’pey, residential school experiences, approved teachings and related information will be available for access to students, educators and future generations.

​

​

​

​