search
phone
assignment

The Land is Our Culture

Home > Our community > Arts, culture & heritage > Public art > Public art collection listing > The Land is Our Culture
The work is located immediately west of Richter Street at the eastern entrance to the Bernard Avenue
Artist: 
Janine Lott, Jordan Coble
Year: 
2013
Collection: 
City of Kelowna Public Art Program

The Work

The installation is a set of banners designed by 2 Westbank First Nation (WFN) artists. Five designs are applied to both sides of 8 gateway poles located near the Bernard Avenue / Richter Street intersection. Each design tells a story related to the culture of the Syilx/Okanagan people. The banner designs complement the design of the gateway poles that include steel plates inscribed with the English word "welcome" and the Syilx word meaning “thank you”. The banners are a symbolic gesture of the two communities, Westbank First Nation and the City of Kelowna, working together.

The Project

The banners were inaugurated at an on-site ceremony on November 26, 2013. Mayor Gray and Chief Robert Louie of Westbank First Nation addressed the artists and a gathering of staff from the City and WFN, local public art supporters, and the media. The budget for the project was $20,000.00.

The Artist

Janine Lott, an established local artist, led the exercise and in the spirit of collaboration of the Westbank First Nation peoples, mentored emerging artist Jordan Coble. Born in Seattle Washington, Janine relocated to her mother's homeland and birthplace in Westbank B.C. She has worked with many materials, including wood, beads, leather, fibers and other natural bounties from mother earth. As a First Nation woman, inspiration has always come from her people, heritage, and the land. In recent years she has translated her skills to other media such as painting, pen and ink drawing, mixed media and printmaking. Jordan Coble strives to ensure the voice of the Okanagan/Syilx people is heard, acknowledged and understood as extremely valuable to all walks of life in relation to past, present and future generations. After achieving his Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of British Columbia-Okanagan, Jordan Coble began his career as the Curatorial and Heritage Researcher for the Westbank First Nation Sncewips Heritage Museum. Jordan is a proud Westbank First Nation and Syilx Nation member and is a storyteller through his work as an artist in various media including writing, film and digital media.