News & Events-Includes access to OIP virtual newsletter "Syetsem."
On this page--Summer 2025--Poster included below
- SFU FPGH Visual Representation-Call to Host Nations (Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and/or Kwikwetlem) Artists, Information below or >>> PDF Deadline: August 25, 2025
- FNS Hand-Drumming workshops with Russell Wallace and Columpa Bobb @ VCC on July 28 & 29, 2025, 4 PM each day
- Status Card workshop in Surrey, July 31, 2025, 10 am
- SFU-Office for Indigenous Peoples online newsletter Syetsem You can subscribe to receive the bi-monthly newsletter and/or submit a news feature.
- SFU Indigenous Pathways Report, 2019
(Please note that this page is for information purposes only to the wider community)
Call to Artists First Peoples’ Gathering House at SFU Visual Representation for Permanent Public Art
Deadline: August 25, 2025
To: Musqueam, Squamish, Tsleil-Waututh and/or Kwikwetlem Artists
Deadline for submission: August 25, 2025
1. INTRODUCTION
Territorial Acknowledgements
AƬԴ respectfully acknowledges the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples, including the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations, on which SFU Burnaby is located.
About the First Peoples’ Gathering House
The establishment of the First Peoples’ Gathering House at SFU stems from specific Calls to Action by SFU’s Aboriginal Reconciliation Council (ARC), outlined in their final report Walk This Path With Us, a living document that will guide and inspire SFU’s journey toward Reconciliation and to keep the SFU community informed about progress and opportunities. The 15,300SF, two-storey First Peoples Gathering House is constructed at the heart of the SFU Burnaby campus, along the Ceremonial Walkway. Anchored by a Ceremonial Hall, the First Peoples’ Gathering House will be a place where cultural events, celebrations and workshops will be held for the Indigenous and campus-wide community. Construction started in March 2023 and be completed by Fall 2025.
2. PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The First Peoples’ Gathering House at AƬԴ seeks to commission an artist or group of artists from Host Nations on whose territories the Burnaby campus is located including, including the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) Peoples. We wish to work with the selected artist to create a two-dimensional visual representation that can be incorporated into the entrance wall, signage, interior furnishings, gifts and signature objects, digital communications and web design associated with the House AƬԴ wishes to honour the role of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim speaking peoples as the original stewards of these lands. The goal of this project is to support the visibility and integration of Host Nation design to recognize and honour their title and rights in the signature space and make it a culturally welcoming place for Indigenous students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Artist Responsibilities
• Meeting all submission deadlines and milestones for the project
• Participation in a review by the Selection Committee
• Design development, including working collaboratively with SFU staff
Design Guidelines
• To celebrate and recognize the Host Nation(s) to which the artist(s) belong.
• To represent the purpose of the FPGH, building on and enhancing its existing visual features.
• Design should be versatile for use on the front façade of the FPGH and other various forms of visual representation as noted above.
Design Requirements At the conclusion of the design development process, the selected artist will be responsible for providing a digital vector file containing the graphic design to be commercially printed.
Upon the delivery of the final design and approval by the Selection Committee, SFU reserves the right to make modifications as necessary to align with the building code regulations and fabrication feasibility, based on recommendations from project contractors. Any significant alterations to the design required to achieve a successful installation will involve review by the artist.
3. SCHEDULE
August 29, 2025 Selection Review September 3, 2025 Approach to Artist(s) September 15-November 15, 2025 Design development
November 30, 2025 Final design delivered
December 2025 – February, 2026 Implementation (including fabrication and installation of entrance wall)
4. RENUMERATION
The successful artist(s) will be compensated with a design fee of $20,000 for the delivery of a production-ready design. Fabrication cost will be handled separately, and carried out under by SFU Facilities Services.
5. ELIGIBILITY
The artist should be a member or citizen of the səl̓ilw̓ətaʔɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish) and/or xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) Nations. The artist and/or artist teams must represent their connection to one or more of the Host Nations to submit a proposal.
6. PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
Submission Package
In order to submit interest to this opportunity, the artist must provide:
1) Name, Contact Information and Bio (max 150 words) – If applying as an artist team, please provide one for each artist, that includes Nation affiliation
2) Letter of Interest (max 250 words) – describing the artist’s conceptual approach to this project
7. SELECTION PROCESS
Eligible submissions will be reviewed by a selection panel consisting of representatives currently involved in the First Peoples Gathering House and SFU Galleries.
Voting Members
• Office for Indigenous Peoples
• Indigenous Studies Department
• Indigenous Student Centre
• Lead Indigenous architect from Urban Arts Architecture
• SFU Galleries
• Campus Planning Department3) Previous work – provide links to a portfolio or samples of at least five (5) previous works relevant to this project in jpeg or png format. Please include title of the artwork, date of completion, dimensions, artwork location and commissioning body, if applicable.
8. PROPOSAL EVALUATION
Evaluation of submissions will be based on the following criteria:
• Conceptual approach
• Samples from previous projects
Submissions will be adjudicated by the selection panel which reserves the right to determine the successful applicants.
Deadline for submission: August 25, 2025
How to Apply: Submit all required documents via email to ico_admin@sfu.ca with the subject line “FPGH Design Artist” before the deadline. Please note links to posted media may not be viewed. Incomplete or late submissions may not be accepted.
Questions / Clarifications and support for submissions
Questions, clarifications and requests for support can be submitted to ico_admin@sfu.ca, and a representative with the University will review and respond.
Qualifications & Requirements:
• The Artist must be able to demonstrate a clear connection to one of the four identified Host Nations.
• The Artist must be willing to work collaboratively with the Selection Committee to finalize design and make production ready files.