Ulksen SPIRIT: a westward walking sonic experience 

*this work can be experienced from anywhere at anytime

A layered walking experience of land, water, body, histories, futures and Spirit of Ulksen: Squamish place name referring to the Burrard Peninsula, colonially known as Spanish Banks. Allow yourself to be guided by the narration, encompassed in the present moment, witnessing as much of your surroundings as possible, while simultaneously giving over to your imagination.

The sonic environment for this piece was crafted and composed by Matthew Morrish: A tapestry of field recordings, imagined spaces, echoed memories, and rhythms of the earth. Matthew creates visual, sonic, and poetic art with his ongoing Futurhythms project. He also occasionally releases electronic music under the alias Owlform.

Jeanette Kotowich is a Vancouver-based, independent, dance artist and choreographer of mixed Cree/Métis and European ancestry.  Jeanette creates work that reflects protocol, ritual, relationship to the natural/spiritual world, and Indigenous futurism. www.movementhealing.ca

Created in consultation with Squamish Elder S7aplek (aka. Bob Baker)

Location: Begin the walk at the colourful flower memorial, a westward walk from Spanish Banks West parking lot B. Ancestral and unceded Musqueam (xʷməθkʷəy̓əm) & Squamish (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh) territory.

image credit - sharai mustatia (aka princess shredder)

created for PuSh Walks 2021 https://pushfestival.ca/walks/

Ulksen SPIRIT

Dance Artist. Creator. Choreography. Interdisciplinary Collaboration. Cultural Knowledge. Indigenous Futurism. 

I create work that references protocol, ritual and my relationship to the natural/spiritual world, which is born out of my desire to reflect Nêhiyaw (Cree) cosmology & Métis cultural narratives within the context of contemporary Indigenous dance performance. Through holistic and expansive approaches, I aim to create work that is timeless; that contains expressions of the ancient, contemporary and Indigenous futurism. My practice is both intergenerational and vocational; it’s a living and lived experience. Focusing on land-based research and creation, I infuse performance with ancestral knowledge.

Movement Healing