Two large Indigenous art pieces were unveiled at a new industrial warehouse in Tsawwassen Friday as part of a partnership between the Tsawwassen First Nation and real estate developer Beedie.

The works, which consists of a Coast Salish house post and a large mural, stand at a recently completed warehouse on Salish Sea Way.

Tsawwassen First Nation Chief Laura Cassidy said the installation reflects a broader effort to ensure development on the nation’s lands honours its culture.

“This ceremony and the lands we stand on are a testament to what’s possible when reconciliation is more than a word, when it’s lived,” Cassidy said.

The cedar house post, titled Salish Seasons, was carved by Tsawwassen carver Karl Morgan and took about three years to complete. It features symbols representing the seasons that includes a thunderbird in the winter, frog in the spring, salmon in the summer, and deer in the fall. 

Morgan said the piece draws from traditional Coast Salish design, noting that house posts differ from totem poles.

“The totem poles are carved in more of a full round figure where a house post is a deep relief carving that would have been part of our long house … and would have told the story of the family who owned those long houses,” he said.

Nearby, a large mural titled Clever Frog, created by carver Bryce Williams, wraps around the corner of the warehouse.

“The frog mural box resembles a lot of different things. Our culture, our history, our ties to the land and waters,” said Williams, noting that the piece was inspired by his son.

“His Haida name is Clever Frog.”

Williams said the artwork also reflects the economic activity taking place as the First Nation continues to develop its industrial lands.

“It’s really building a good tax base for our nation. We’re open for business and we mean business,” he said, pointing to the growing demand for industrial space in the region.

Beedie said the facility, which spans nearly 486,000 square feet, is fully leased, which highlights strong demand in Metro Vancouver’s logistics market.

Jennifer Clow, director of industrial development at Beedie, says incorporating Indigenous art into the project was a priority.

“Their vision and creativity have brought elements to this building that truly set it apart,” she said.

For Morgan, the goal is to ensure development does not come at the cost of cultural presence.

“We don’t want to simply develop our land and feel like it’s gone,” he said. “We want to be able to walk through our lands and celebrate these partnerships.”