Exhibits at Maplewood Flats
The Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats hosts a variety of permanent and temporary exhibits at the site.
Current Exhibit
snəxʷəł: an art exhibit by Zoe George
JANUARY 27 - MARCH 23, 2024
We want to invite our Wild Bird Trust members, friends and community members to join us for the new exhibit for 2024, snəxʷəł: an art exhibit by Zoe George
The exhibit will be displaying traditional canoes, paddles, photographs and a video on the importance of canoe culture. You can learn more about Zoe and the exhibit below:
My name is Zoe Juliette George, my ancestral name is Mekwalya, and I am a səlil ̕wətaʔɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh person. I have created a canoe exhibit, titled snəxʷəł (“canoe” in hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓) that will be at the Maplewood Mudflats from January to March. There is a rich history that has taken place at the Maplewood Mudflats. I want to share some of the traditional səlil ̕wətaʔɬ aspects of that. This project/exhibit came about from a research grant that I received. I chose to focus on canoeing because it is a huge and important part of my life. From March until September I canoe and war canoe race anywhere from five to six days a week. My səlil ̕wətaʔɬ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ancestors have kept canoeing alive and I wish to continue this on. I want people to come to this exhibit and understand the beautiful history of canoeing. I also want to share how war canoeing is of large importance in many First Nations communities. Most of all though I want to take up space in the unceded lands that Maplewood Mudflats resides on, and what better way to do that by sharing some cultural traditions of the səlil ̕wətaʔɬ people.
We are so thrilled to have this exhibit in the Nature House! The exhibit will be open to the public on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 11am-3pm at the Nature House. (From Saturday, January 27th, 2024 to Saturday, March 23rd, 2024.)
Past Exhibits
Winter Market & Annual Members Photography
December 27th, 2023 - January 13th, 2024
Maplewood Flats second annual Coast Salish Holiday pop-up market will kick off Saturday, December 2nd, and will run from 11am-3pm every Thursday, Friday and Saturday until January 13th.
This years winter market featured wild bird and Coast Salish artworks, including T-shirts and designs from Jordan Gallie, Ocean Hyland, Jonas Jones and Olivia George. There were also notebooks screen-printed by hand, candles made with essential oils of native trees found at the flats.
The annual members photography exhibit was also on and visitors were able to explore beautiful photographs of birds and wildlife captured at Maplewood Flats.
The Importance of Soil Health
March 2nd, 2023 - June 2nd, 2023
The Nature House will host our 2023 Soil Exhibit from February to May. This exhibit features information on the importance of soil health and native plants on the land, for increasing biodiversity and as a food source for both animals and people.
Soil is the foundation of the food web for humans, and more than humans, so it’s essential that we do everything we can to protect it.
Throughout the duration of this exhibit there will be hands-on activities and speakers sharing knowledge. It will be a complete program of culture, conservation and community.
Artists for Conservation 2023
September 16 - September 30, 2023
The Artists for Conservation Exhibit features beautiful pieces that are themed on wildlife and wild places, with a special emphasis on birds in the Pacific Coast. It is in the nature house from September 16th – September 30th and is open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 10am-2pm to view.
Each purchase directly supports conservation and environmental education. With 25% of purchase prices supporting the Wild Bird Trust of BC.
We will launch the opening weekend with our Native Plant Sale & Fundraiser. We will have educational workshops going on throughout the day and the nursery will be open to browse, shop and ask questions.
There will be live music, a beautiful display of nature themed artwork and we hope to see you there!
Coast Salish Winter Market
December 10, 2022 - January 4, 2023
The Nature House will host our 2023 Soil Exhibit from February to May. This exhibit features information on the importance of soil health and native plants on the land, for increasing biodiversity and as a food source for both animals and people.
Soil is the foundation of the food web for humans, and more than humans, so it’s essential that we do everything we can to protect it.
Throughout the duration of this exhibit there will be hands-on activities and speakers sharing knowledge. It will be a complete program of culture, conservation and community.
Repairing Ecological and Cultural Relations
July - September 2022
In 1993, the Wild Bird Trust of BC assumed management of the Maplewood Flats site and excluded Tsleil-Waututh from stewardship for the subsequent 25 years. This exhibition and related public programming unpack this complex history, and the competing worldviews of western science and Indigenous Knowledge, while inviting viewers to answer questions about the past, present, and future of the site.
In the winter of 2022, members of the Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish Nation were elected to a majority on the board of directors of the Wild Bird Trust of BC. The work of decolonizing stewardship practices and governance of the site is a process which is best done with Wild Bird Trust members, Tsleil-Waututh community members, and the staff and volunteers all collaborating to repair the land and speed up the important work of restoration and sea-level rise and climate change adaptation. To prepare this work, this exhibit examines the ideas underpinning site management and proposed construction of new infrastructure including an outdoor Covid-friendly classroom for Tsleil-Waututh school children, something imagined by Leonard George back in 1971.
Coast Salish Plant Exhibition: Celebrating Indigenous Ecosystems
April 22 - June 6, 2022
This exhibit highlights Indigenous knowledge of native plants and their connection to Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish history. Learn about ethnobotany and the various medicinal and food uses of the plants for humans and animal species. The exhibit has three components exploring the language of plants, the threats to native plants in Salish lands, and contributions from our community.
Throughout the duration of the exhibition, a series of family-friendly Saturday morning events (11am) will be held, highlighting the importance of Coast Salish Plants and biodiversity. Topics such as Native Plants and Climate Action, Native Plants and Wild Birds, uses of plants in teas and woven objects, and many others. The exhibit is open Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am to 3pm; Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 4pm on a first come, first-served basis.
Pacific Coast Portraits
September 18th - October 9th, 2021
An Artists for Conservation Festival exhibit in partnership with the Wild Bird Trust of BC.
The exhibition is open 11am-3pm on weekends at the Nature House until October 9. All proceeds of artwork sales go towards the artists, Artists for Conservation, and the Wild Bird Trust of B.C.
Come check out the show while you go for a nature walk! 🌿
Nature House
Maplewood Flats, 2649 Dollarton Hwy.,
North Vancouver
Tsleil-Waututh Territory
ArtistsForConservation.org/festival
Children of takaya
Jordan Gallie, Olivia George, Jacob George, Robbie George, Ocean Hyland, Jonas Jones, Cody Larock, and features Atheana Picha | Curated by Jonas Jones
Exhibition Dates & Hours: September 8-12, 2021, 12:00-8:00 pm
Location: Part Of Studio, 4389 Gallant Ave., North Vancouver, Tsleil-waututh Territory • Poster art: Ocean Hyland
Opening Event: Weds, Sept. 8th, at 7:30pm • Closing Event: Sun, Sept. 12th at 2:00pm • Performances by Children of Takaya at Panorama Park
The Children of Takaya exhibition presents artwork from emerging Tsleil-Waututh artists in this five-day Part Of Studio exhibit in Deep Cove, unceded Tsleil-Waututh lands and waters.
Chief Dan George: Actor & Activist
Exhibit at maplewood flats May 22-September 6, 2021
The exhibit explores the life and legacy of Tsleil-Waututh Chief Dan George (Tśētsawanexw & Stalaston), 1899-1981. The exhibit focuses on his influence as an advocate for the rights of First Nations Peoples and his career as an actor. It also considers other significant figures, events and milestones in the First Nations rights movement in BC and Canada, and touches on the wider history and portrayal of indigenous people in film and television. The exhibition also connects his esteemed legacy to this place, and enables Tsleil-Waututh members and North Vancouver residents to witness these stories so close to his home.
Permanent Installations
Maplewood Flats Conservation area hosts public artworks by local Indigenous artists at various locations around the site.
Call for Submissions
4th Annual Members Photography Exhibition
Calling ALL Wild Bird Trust of BC nature photographers!
Whether you’re a professional or a beginner nature-loving photographer, we invite you to submit your favourite images! Share your love for the birds, plants, insects and wildlife at the Conservation Area at Maplewood Flats.
The competition consists of large-format digital photos taken at Maplewood Flats of plants and flowers as well as birds and wildlife. Up to 20 photos/photographers will be selected for exhibition at the Nature House.
Deadline for Submissions: September 3
We strongly encourage submissions from youth, Coast Salish, Indigenous & Black People, People of Colour, women, LGBTQ and People with Diverse Abilities.
Photo by Nicolas Ladino Silva on Unsplash/Canva.