Sqilxʷɬcawt (Our Ways of Being)
february 14 - march 16, 2025
toni onley gallery
Sqilxʷɬcawt (Our Ways of Being)
Outma Sqilxʷ Student Art Collection
The Outma Sqilxʷ Student Art Collection: Sqilxʷɬcawt (Our Ways of Being) is an exhibition which celebrates the creative output and cultural heritage of the Grade 7/8 students at Outma Sqilxʷ Cultural School. Guided by their teachers and local community mentors, students explored a wide range of artistic practices that honour syilx culture and traditions. The exhibition reflects their journey of self-expression, connection to the land, and the collective spirit of learning through storytelling, art, and hands-on activities.
Highlights of this exhibition include a collaborative mural led by artist and mentor Catherine Pierre, where each student contributed a hand-painted tile. The Four Food Chiefs Dot Art showcases intricate designs inspired by the captikʷɬ (traditional stories) and the guiding attributes of the Four Chiefs. Other works include handcrafted drums and a recorded song used in ceremonial stick games, string nail art depicting symbolic images, and pine needle baskets woven with great care. These pieces reflect the students’ deep respect for their cultural roots and their commitment to preserving traditional knowledge through creative expression. Each artwork invites viewers to engage with syilx stories and values, offering a powerful testament to the significance of traditional cultural teachings, art and education.
Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School (OSCS) is located on the Penticton Indian Band Reserve overlooking the City of Penticton, offering stunning vistas of both Skaha Lake and Lake Okanagan. Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School serves students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade Nine Currently, the school has a population of approximately 100 students. Outma Sqilx’w Cultural School offers a strong Nsyilxen Language and Culture Program and a solid academic program which meets provincial learning outcomes. Special attention is given to create a safe and welcoming school environment.
The Buildings design reflects a deep connection to the land and the cultural heritage of the syilx people. At the request of the Penticton Indian Band, the building was designed to grow organically from its surroundings, adopting a form language inspired by the natural textures and patterns of the nearby hillsides. This harmonious blend of architecture and environment extends into the interior, where the cultural education room creatively re imagines the traditional subterranean pit house.
The design and construction of the school were led by principal architects Peter Hildebrand and Kendall Jessiman of the Iredale Group Architecture. The project has earned significant recognition, including being named one of the Top 25 Schools in the World by World Architectural News Magazine (2010) and receiving the Best in Canada award from Interiors Magazine (2012). Officially opened to students in 2011, the school exemplifies the seamless integration of contemporary architecture and technology with Indigenous cultural values and environmental stewardship.
