École Salish Secondary School

See the artwork created by eight Indigenous artists in collaboration with students and staff for École Salish Secondary School.

As these artworks are in a high school, please check in at reception first.

Artists: Brandon Gabriel (Kwantlen), Elinor Atkins (Kwantlen), Les Wells (Semiahmoo), Wes Antone (Kwantlen), Rain Pierre (Katzie), Roxanne Charles (Semiahmoo), Deanna Point (Musqueam), and Gary Leon (Chehalis)
Location: École Salish Secondary School (7278 184 Street)
Category: Private collection
Owner: School District No 36 (Surrey)
Year Installed: 2019

About the Artworks

Surrey Schools is committed to honouring the local First Nations on whose traditional territories their students, staff, and faculty work, learn, and play. As part of the planning for the new school, École Salish Secondary, the district contracted artists from the Katzie, Semiahmoo, Kwantlen, Musqueam and Chehalis First Nations to design the school logo and welcome figure and contribute designs for glass surfaces throughout the school.

The artwork shown here was selected by a committee of representatives from the local First Nations and are installed at the entrances of classroom pods and other key areas in the school, such as the front office and the door to the Inclusion room.

Much of the artwork’s subject matter is rooted in nature, depicting wildlife including salmon, frogs, wolves, beavers, owls, eagles, and cranes. Designs also reflect a canoe journey and ancient local petroglyphs.

The Surrey School District writes that it is “proud to highlight the artwork, language, and culture of local First Nations through these displays and is continuously grateful for the contributions of indigenous artists to our schools.”

Project & Artist Videos

École Salish Secondary: A Good Place

Watch the video to learn more about this collaborative Indigenous art project and see the process and journey of each Indigenous artist.
Watch Video
École Salish Secondary: Gary Leon

Gary Leon is an Indigenous artist from the Sts'ailes First Nation. He is one of many Indigenous artists who collaborated with students and staff to create artwork for École Salish Secondary.
Watch Video
École Salish Secondary: Brandon Gabriel

Brandon Gabriel is an Indigenous artist from the Kwantlen First Nation. He is one of many Indigenous artists who collaborated with students and staff to create artwork for École Salish Secondary.
Watch Video
École Salish Secondary: Wes Antone

Wes Antone is an Indigenous artist from the Kwantlen First Nation. He is one of many Indigenous artists who collaborated with students and staff to create artwork for École Salish Secondary.
Watch Video
École Salish Secondary: Roxanne Charles

Roxanne Charles is an Indigenous artist from the Semiahmoo First Nation. She is one of many Indigenous artists who collaborated with students and staff to create artwork for École Salish Secondary.
Watch Video
École Salish Secondary: Deanna Point

Deanna Point is an Indigenous artist from the Musqueam First Nation. She is one of many Indigenous artists who collaborated with students and staff to create artwork for École Salish Secondary.
Watch Video
École Salish Secondary: Elinor Atkins

Elinor Atkins is an Indigenous artist from the Kwantlen First Nation. She is one of many Indigenous artists who collaborated with students and staff to create artwork for École Salish Secondary.
Watch Video