Left, Surrey Board of Education Vice-Chair Terry Allen and Chair Gary Tymoschuk unveil the new welcome figure at Fraser Heights Secondary. Right, Katzie artist and Fraser Heights alum Rain Pierre, with artistic partner Kiefer Strautman, admire Pierre's Indigenous 3D art panel that was unveiled alongside the welcome figure. (Photos by Jacob Zinn)
Fraser Heights Secondary is now home to two Coast Salish art pieces, with a new welcome figure and an Indigenous 3D art panel adorning the school's entryway to welcome students, staff and parents.
In a ceremony last Thursday, Surrey Board of Education Chair Gary Tymoschuk and Vice-Chair Terry Allen unveiled the welcome figure, designed by Sts'ailes (Chehalis) Master Carver Gary Leon (Talekwitsen), and art panel, designed by Katzie artist and Fraser Heights alumnus Rain Pierre (sɬə́məxʷ). Both art pieces are intended to encourage inclusion for Indigenous families, and serve to acknowledge the territories of the Coast Salish people.
"The welcome figure and the 3D art panel stand as a reminder that we are on Katzie land, surrounded by a thriving community with traditions and customs we are lucky enough to witness and enjoy," said Tymoschuk. "They will create a powerful and lasting impression on Indigenous students, staff, families and our surrounding community, for decades.
"Our board is committed to ongoing efforts toward reconciliation through these initiatives and providing every single Surrey Schools' student an opportunity to learn more about the traditions and customs of Indigenous Peoples."
For Pierre, seeing his art panel - designed with artistic partner Kiefer Strautman - on the wall was an emotional experience and something of a homecoming as a former Fraser Heights student.
"When I was in Grade 9, Fraser Heights held a logo contest, and I made a logo, and I was really disheartened that I didn't win," recalled Pierre. "I kind of did artwork in the background, it wasn't something I saw myself making a career out of.
"Then about two years ago, I got a call from [former principal] Tim Cross and he invited me back to the school. He sat down and slid over a piece of paper, and it was that logo design that I made in Grade 9. They kept it all this time, and he said, It's time to bring it to life.'"
The welcome figure at Fraser Heights is carved out of yellow cedar and is dressed in a traditional cedar hat, with a unique design that is individual to the school. Fraser Heights marks Leon's ninth welcome figure for the district since 2019, after unveilings at Bothwell, Douglas, Edgewood, École K.B. Woodward, Maddaugh and Regent Road elementary schools, and Grandview Heights and École Salish secondary schools. He is also working on a welcome figure for the new City Centre elementary school opening next September.
"It's always an honour to come to these ceremonies," said Leon. "It's been a good experience, a lot of fun to do all these welcome figures for the Surrey School District."
The ceremony also featured Indigenous drumming and performances by members of the Katzie First Nation, and was attended by Katzie members Cyril Xavier Pierre and Terrence Pierre, and Kwantlen First Nation member Dennis Leon, among other dignitaries.
Rain Pierre expressed his gratitude to his family and members of the Katzie First Nation for being a part of the ceremony, and to the school for giving him the opportunity to showcase his work.
"I'm proud to be Katzie, I'm proud to be from where I live and have family here, it truly means a lot," he said. "I'm super honoured to be a part of Fraser Heights' legacy."
Other schools that are scheduled to receive welcome figures in the near future are Ta'talu Elementary, Xw'epiteng Elementary and Snokomish Elementary, which will be unveiled in their own ceremonies.
