Across the street from the turn off to the Fairmont Chateau Whistler is the Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations Museum. Unlike the Whistler Museum, this place is big. Your jaw is pretty much left wide open as you walk into the place. The artifacts and replicas on display are full size. The museum has three levels. The lower level has the gift shop and the Thunderbird Cafe. The main level and second floor contains displays, interactive exhibits and a theatre to watch an introduction movie.

Squamish and Lil’wat First Nations are two different cultures and their ways of life are very different from one another. Squamish people lived more coastal, where as Lil’wat lived in the interior, so things from canoes, how they lived, their art and how they survived are different, even though they were neighbours. They share a respect for the land and the riches it provides them, and both have a rich oral history and culture. The museum helps them showcase that.

Since we were there in the winter, I did not get a chance to check out the pathway around the museum. The pathway is a short interpretive walk that passes through some of the old-growth forest in the upper village of Whistler. This would be beautiful to see in the summer. There is also an underground hut to demonstrate how they survived cold winter conditions.

The museum brandishes some amazing artwork throughout. There are several full-size canoes, so you can see how they were carved and shaped for use. The Squamish and Lil’wat built canoes differently: one style was used for oceans; another for fast river or lake use. Coming from Alberta, I have some understanding of what First Nations life was like on the prairies, but there is a bit of a difference seeing what life for these two cultures was like being beside the ocean or living in the forests of the west coast.

Due to time, I did not get a chance to do the tour. Rob, though, was able, and took the time to enjoy what they had to offer. It is highly recommended; they explain in more detail the hands-on displays, which include things like creating a cedar bark bracelet. When I walked in, I was given a small rose made of a ribbon of cedar bark. I still have it and it floored me that something so small could have so much detail.

Drums and songs are a big part of the learning experience in the museum. They want to make sure that their languages are not forgotten so you will see, on most of the displays, the First Nations’ languages used with the English translation.

The gift shop on the lower level is loaded with some great locally made artwork and gifts. The staff are extremely friendly and were very happy we were there. They explained that – during the Olympics – they got some great coverage, but since they are not directly in the main village, they don’t get the traffic from people walking through. However, because they are off the main path, they could develop a large space to showcase both their cultures in an amazing and immersive way. Seeing this place gives you an appreciation of the people who came before the Europeans and how much they cared for the land around them.

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Contributor Steve Polyak |

Locale British Columbia | Whistler |

Topic Arts | Museum | Travel | Whistler Pride |

Photo Gallery Travel | Whistler |