Blanketing the City V: The Rescue

Debra Sparrow · Chief Janice George · Angela George · Buddy Joseph · The Shipyards, North Vancouver

xʷməθkʷəy̓əm / Sḵwx̱wú7mesh / səlilwətaɬ · Medium: Mural · Three panels · Installed: 2021 

Three Nations. Three master weavers. One wall — telling the story of the fire that burned this city, and the Indigenous people who saved it.

The Work

The Blanketing the City series has been placing Coast Salish weaving patterns across Vancouver's urban landscape since 2018. The North Vancouver installation at the Shipyards is the series' fifth chapter — and its most significant collaboration. For the first time, master weavers from all three local Nations worked together on a single public artwork.

Blanketing the City was conceived by xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) weaver and designer Debra Sparrow with the Vancouver Mural Festival — born from a clear intent: to affirm the resurgence of Coast Salish weaving on these lands, and directly combat the ongoing systemic suppression of Indigenous visual culture.

In 2021, Sparrow invited Chief Janice George of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish) Nation and Angela George of the səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nation to collaborate. Together with Buddy Joseph, the four artists created what is believed to be the first semi-permanent public art collaboration between weavers from all three host Nations of this territory.

The triptych tells the story of the Great Vancouver Fire of 1886 across three panels: Rescue depicts Indigenous first responders bringing people to safety across the Burrard Inlet — a history largely absent from the city's official narrative. Aftermath holds the moment after — the landscape, the loss. Wealth of the Land looks forward, to the enduring abundance of this territory and the Nations' relationship to it.

Watch and learn more about the installation and story behind this work, CLICK HERE 

Know Before You Go

Outdoors at the Shipyards in Lower Lonsdale, North Vancouver. Accessible year-round, free of charge. Walk the full length of all three panels to take in the triptych as a complete narrative sequence.

Best time to visit: Weekday mornings. Panels face east — morning light is best for photography. The Shipyards is busy on weekends, particularly during summer Friday Night Market.

Getting There

By SeaBus — The most direct and scenic route. SeaBus from Waterfront Station — 12-minute crossing to Lonsdale Quay, then 5-minute walk north along the waterfront. The crossing travels through the traditional waters of all three Nations represented in this work.

By Transit — From Lonsdale Quay, Bus 228 or 229 toward Lower Lonsdale.

By Vehicle — Cross Second Narrows or Lions Gate Bridge, follow signs to Lower Lonsdale. Paid parking at the Shipyards. SeaBus strongly recommended on weekends.

By Bike — The Spirit Trail cycling and walking path runs directly through the Shipyards.

From the VCC: SeaBus from Waterfront Station — 12 minutes by water. One of the most scenic connections on the full Trail.

From YVR: Canada Line to Waterfront, then SeaBus. Approximately 40 minutes.

CONTINUE THE TRAIL

→  Blanketing the City — Granville Island · Debra Sparrow · Granville Street Bridge · 8 km

→  People Amongst the People · Susan Point · Brockton Point, Stanley Park · 7 km

→  Human Spirit · Susan Point · Vancouver Convention Centre · 9 km