A renovated Westbank First Nation (WFN) s蓹nsisyust蓹n House of Learning centre has been brought to life with a fresh coat of paint.

Using vivid colours, lead artist Janine Lott and designer Colin Crabbe used their skills to spruce up the building by helping to paint First Nationssa国际传媒� artwork on its walls.

Christopher Derickson outlines his priorities as newly elected Westbank First Nation chief

The artwork is the final step to complete $9 million worth of renovations, which started in June of 2018.

Lott said it wasnsa国际传媒檛 easy to decide what objects would receive the blue, green and red colours.

sa国际传媒淪ome of the difficulties were picking colours. It doesnsa国际传媒檛 matter how many pieces there area, there is a price for each colour,sa国际传媒� Lott said.

sa国际传媒淚t was a challenge to pick out what parts would be coloured and how theysa国际传媒檇 be portrayed the best they could.sa国际传媒�

On the inside of the building, Lott said four different Okanagan/Syilx food chiefs were coloured to symbolize how food is interconnected in nature.

sa国际传媒淭he four food chiefs coloured included Chief Spitlem (bitter root) Chief Siya (Saskatoon Berry,) Chief Ntyxtix (salmon) and Chief Skemxisst (black bear).sa国际传媒�

Lott said the colours are meant to get the children excited about Okanagan/Syilx culture who learn in the centre everyday.

sa国际传媒淚 really wanted the artwork to be friendly for children,sa国际传媒� said Lott.

sa国际传媒淚 wanted it to be something that was cheery for children going in and out of centre everyday.sa国际传媒�

Patricia Derickson was another prominent Nsyilxcen artist who complete much of the artwork around the buildingsa国际传媒檚 front steps and classroom doors.

During the unveiling of the facility in September, WFN chief Chris Derickson said hesa国际传媒檚 like to turn the facility into a full-immersion Nsyilxcen language school in the future.

WFN is one of seven First Nation communities that make up the Okanagan Nation where the nsyilxc蓹n language is spoken.

connor.trembley@kelownacapnews.com
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