Skip to content

VIDEO: ‘House post’ raising ceremony held at Kariton Art Gallery

Cedar carving celebrated by 500 people in Abbotsford
8731595_web1_171004-ABB-House-post-ceremony_2
Artist Raphael Silver stands with his dad Ray Silver pn Friday beside the house post carving he crafted for Kariton Art Gallery. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)

The Abbotsford Arts Council welcomed about 500 people to Kariton Art Gallery today (Friday) to celebrate the completion of a cedar “house post” crafted by artist Raphael Silver.

The post is now situated outside the entrance to the gallery.

Speaking at the ceremony, Silver said he chose to make a hummingbird and flowers the focal point of the carving.

“When I see art, I just try to make something beautiful,” he said in describing his choice.

Silver said flowers are nature’s strongest symbol of beauty, and a hummingbird spreads that beauty.

The Abbotsford Arts Council commissioned Silver to carve the house post to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday and to acknowledge Stó:lo contributions to the community.

A house post is the Coast Salish version of the totem pole, and it is carved to proclaim the stories and values of the family or clan.

Outside of the Big House (the Coast Salish description of a longhouse), posts function as welcome poles, and inside they are used as support beams.

Silver is an accomplished artist known for other art installations in the community such as the roundabout at McCallum Road depicting the salmon, the house post arch at Fraser River Heritage Park, and projects at various schools, including Yale Secondary.

Prior to the ceremony, hundreds of Abbotsford students participated in a walk leading to the art gallery in support of Orange Shirt Day.

The day acknowledges, honours and shows respect to the survivors of residential schools and raises awareness of the intergenerational impact of mistreatment within these institutions.

Most of the people attending the house post ceremony wore orange shirts in recognition of the day.

Guests speaking at the ceremony included Chief Dalton Silver of Sumas First Nation, former B.C. lieutenant governor Steven Point, Coun. Brenda Falk, and Abbotsford Arts Council president Aaron Levy.

The event included traditional song and drumming, and a blessing of the house post.

The project is supported by the community fund for Canada’s 150th, the Abbotsford Community Foundation, the City of Abbotsford and the federal government.

8731595_web1_171004-ABB-House-post-ceremony_3
Traditional drummers and students from local schools gathered outside of Kariton Art Gallery on Friday for a ceremony celebrating the creation of a “house post” by artist Raphael Silver. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)
8731595_web1_171004-ABB-House-post-ceremony_4
Students from Margaret Stenersen Elementary perform a song – which was a partnership between their school and Abbotsford School of the Integrated Arts – during the house post ceremony on Friday at Kariton Art Gallery. (Vikki Hopes/Abbotsford News)


Vikki Hopes

About the Author: Vikki Hopes

I have been a journalist for almost 40 years, and have been at the Abbotsford News since 1991.
Read more