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 Nations害羞草研究所� 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 wasn害羞草研究所檛 easy to decide what objects would receive the blue, green and red colours.

害羞草研究所淪ome of the difficulties were picking colours. It doesn害羞草研究所檛 matter how many pieces there area, there is a price for each colour,害羞草研究所� Lott said.

害羞草研究所淚t was a challenge to pick out what parts would be coloured and how they害羞草研究所檇 be portrayed the best they could.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淭he four food chiefs coloured included Chief Spitlem (bitter root) Chief Siya (Saskatoon Berry,) Chief Ntyxtix (salmon) and Chief Skemxisst (black bear).害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 really wanted the artwork to be friendly for children,害羞草研究所� said Lott.

害羞草研究所淚 wanted it to be something that was cheery for children going in and out of centre everyday.害羞草研究所�

Patricia Derickson was another prominent Nsyilxcen artist who complete much of the artwork around the building害羞草研究所檚 front steps and classroom doors.

During the unveiling of the facility in September, WFN chief Chris Derickson said he害羞草研究所檚 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
Like us on and follow us on .