s7atsáliya RESIDENCY
The Roundhouse is pleased to hold an artist residency with s7atsáliya, which will surface the Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh sníchim (Squamish Language) in our building and grounds. At the Roundhouse – the city’s oldest industrial building which is still on its original site – the narrative of this space often focuses on colonial histories. s7atsáliya’s project draws our attention to a continuous and much wider view of this land: experiencing and connecting with changes in season and weather through the sḵwx̱ wú7mesh sníchim.
kwes n sch’á7miḵw-t na x̱ échnexwas kwis na níchim ta sḵwx̱ wú7mesh-ulh sníchim kwi n ts’ep’ts’ép’iy̓ iḵw-t. nilh melh stl’i7s kwins tá7lnexwan ta sḵwx̱ wú7mesh-ulh sníchim. na stl’i7s kwins ḵ’ánatsut ta sníchim txwnam̓ n nch’áy̓ uw̓ am iy kwen smén̓ hem-cht. nilh ta ménilh sḵwálwens kwen si7l ímen. na sḵan̓ s ta s7ulh sníchim-cht ta residential schools. iy̓ ím ta sḵwálwens kwis níchim chet ḵiy̓ át.
It was my late great-grandmother who remembered her parents speaking the Sḵwx̱ wú7mesh sníchim. That was why she wanted me to learn our language. She wanted our language to be returned to our family and descendants to come. My grandfather has similar thoughts and feelings. He remembers how the residential schools stole our language. He has told me his feelings are strong knowing we are learning and speaking again.
Artist Biography
S7atsáliya (Charlene George, MA) comes from the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh and Səlilwətaɬ nations and is a learner, teacher and advocate of the Sḵwx̱wu7mesh sníchim (Squamish language). Her passion for language work is rooted in nine years of dedicated experience developing effective strategies to foster conversational fluency, as well as creating curricula and other valuable language resources. She holds a Master’s degree in Indigenous Languages and Linguistics, her final project demonstrating ongoing immersive learning practices via language domains, as well as some linguistic interpretation.
S7atsáliya firmly believes that one of the most effective paths to fluency in a second language is to weave it into everyday life. She integrates Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim into her daily routines—whether cooking, wool weaving, or chatting with her puppy (who may or may not be listening). She’s especially excited that her husband is now learning the language, so they can share a home and a life rooted in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim—when he’s not busy building canoes.
A central goal for S7atsáliya is to empower current and future generations to engage with their language, nurturing a vibrant community where people can speak, share, and reconnect with one another, their culture, spirituality, and ancestral land. She has a strong belief that through language we can get a glimpse into our ancestors’ worldview, and ensure a deeper connection from the old to the new.
S7atsáliya is grateful to her many teachers in their respective backgrounds, acknowledging a shared feeling, “ to learn is to teach and to teach is to learn.”