The land now known as Whistler lies in the unceded territory of the Lílwat Nation and Skwxú7mesh Nation.
For centuries, colonial governments and settlers have displaced Indigenous Peoples from their lands throughout what is now known as Canada. Legislation such as the Indian Act of 1876, the creation of IndianReserves, and Indian Residential Schools [1831-1997] sought to separate Indigenous Peoples from their landsand cultural practices.
The Pre-emption Act of 1860 allowed colonial settlers in British Columbia to locate and claim sections of what the colonial government considered to be unoccupied Crown land.
In the late nineteenth century and early twentieth century, colonial settlers in the area today known as Whistler, pre-empted much of the land surrounding the valleys & lakes. This process did not consider Indigenous claims to land or uses such as seasonal villages of the Lílwat Nation and Skwxú7mesh Nation.
The devastating impacts of this history have been profound and continue to be felt by Indigenous communities today.
On Sunday, June 21, the Whistler Museum will be closed in honour of National Indigenous Peoples Day. We encourage both residents and visitors to Whistler to explore the celebrations at the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Líl̓wat7úl Cultural Centre (SLCC). You can learn more about their events and offerings here.
Reconciliation takes on many forms.
We, at the Whistler Museum, are committed to learning from past wrongs and collectively working to pro-actively build collaborative futures: one where everyone’s stories and rights are thoroughly acknowledgement, upheld and honoured …