Press Release: An Attack on Our Culture
“Coming Home” By Brandon Gabriel - horizontal slash marks have been cut across the canoe and bodies of the paddlers.
Kwantlen First Nation (Langley, BC) - This evening, an anonymous source submitted evidence of the destruction of the artistic works of Coast Salish artist, Brandon Gabriel. It is clear that some sort of blade was taken across at least one piece of art which is housed in the storage facilities of the Kwantlen First Nation.
On November 27th, 2022, Brandon Gabriel was elected to the Kwantlen Band Council, while the Hereditary Chief, Marilyn Gabriel, was removed from the Council. Ms Gabriel refused to accept the outcome or validity of the vote and, with the support of Indigenous Services Canada, she has remained in control of the band offices - including the one that housed Mr Gabriel’s art.
It is not known when the vandalism occurred or whether it was just this one major piece - or if other works of art were destroyed as well. The former chief, Marilyn Gabriel has not informed Mr Gabriel (or his legal counsel) of the attack.
In Coast Salish culture, an assault on cultural works is reminiscent of the predations of the Residential School era, when art was stolen and outlawed by priests, and agents of the Department of Indian Affairs. The resurgence of our art works is a central component to the rebirth of Coast Salish culture.
Kwantlen Band Councillor Brandon Gabriel at the opening of a permanent installation of his work on the Ruskin Dam.
Brandon Gabriel is a prominent Coast Salish artist, with major public installations located across the Lower Mainland, as well as works on display across BC, Canada, the US, and the UK.
On discovery of the attack, Councillor Brandon Gabriel said that he was devastated, and not just for himself: “all the youth I paddled with on those journeys, and all the ones I have helped in recovery. It will be seen as an attack on them too.“
This is one more act of violence in a series of acts that have included an attack on 2 different elders, a toddler, the vandalism of another elder’s boat, and numerous harassing and homophobic calls. Kwantlen’s Band Council has reached out to the Minister of Indigenous Services for assistance in quelling the violence and intimidation, but they have not replied.
All of these incidents surrounded the recent Consultation Vote, held by the new band councillors - which sought to confirm public support for the traditional assembly that brought them to power. More than 90% of voters gave their support to the Assembly, the new councillors, and condemned Ms Gabriel.
This latest attack is important because it is an attack on our culture - an attack on who we are as Salish people. In its targeting, there is little doubt that this attack was committed by supporters of the former Chief, Marilyn Gabriel - in retribution for the success of the new council at the polls.
The legal team for Kwanten’s legitimate Band Council (as opposed to the faction led by Marilyn Gabriel) is addressing the issue with Ms Gabriel’s publicly funded lawyers. Ms Gabriel’s lawyers recently filed suit against Brandon Gabriel, the other councillors, as well as 2 of their prominent supporters - trying to overthrow the traditional assembly, and enforce hereditary rule over the nation, in spite of the votes of its people.
The value of this single piece of art is estimated to be in the thousands, with tens of thousands more stored along with it, with the condition of those pieces unknown.
For media inquiries, please email spokesperson@kwantlen.community