A billboard stands at the north end of Duck Lake, presenting powerful images of an alternative perspective to the Canada 150 celebrations planned for this year

The vision shows Okanagan/Syilx peoples forming the land with their bodies, a medicine wheel rests on a man害羞草研究所檚 shoulder, a tall ship represents the encroaching colonialists, oil runs through the waters and flames lick at a church in the background.

Bears and salmon sit on the outer edge of the board and at the bottom lies the words 害羞草研究所淩ethink 150: Indigenous Truth.害羞草研究所�

Two billboards were created by members of the Rethink 150: Indigenous Truth Collective and have been erected in the the Okanagan to foster reconciliation between Syilx/Okanagan people and non-indigenous Canadians.

The first billboard was unveiled in May on a Lower Similkameen Indian Band reserve near Keremeos.

The second can be seen on Highway 97 at the north end of Duck Lake near Kelowna, on Okanagan Indian Band reserve land and was placed Saturday, June 17.

The artist who created the design, Crystal Przybille, grew up in the Okanagan. But she wasn害羞草研究所檛 aware of the indigenous history before she began researching a previous historic sculpture.

害羞草研究所淧art of my research for that sculpture brought me to a sort of raised awareness of the problematics of settlement, of colonialism and of indigenous culture that was here in the valley,害羞草研究所� she said.

The research led her to the Westbank First Nation, and then to a connection with the indigenous truth collective.

Przybille wants to create a dialogue with the billboards, showing the marginalization of indigenous peoples amid the celebrations of Canada害羞草研究所檚 150th birthday.

害羞草研究所淔or a whole culture of people it was an incredibly painful 150 years and let害羞草研究所檚 think about that,害羞草研究所� she said.

The image was developed through conversations with the Syilx people and the collective, determining what 150 years means to them, she said.

Dixon Terbasket is a member of the Syilx Okanagan tribe and the Rethink 150 Collective. Terbasket and his family wanted to bring the dark history of Canada and its aboriginals to light.

害羞草研究所淗ere in the Okanagan it害羞草研究所檚 a little different, it害羞草研究所檚 harder to see. We害羞草研究所檙e urbanized, we害羞草研究所檙e surrounded by the settlers, for lack of a better term,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所�(But) there害羞草研究所檚 a lot of things we have on reserves. People are poor, they have health issues. People say 害羞草研究所榳hy don害羞草研究所檛 you just get over it?害羞草研究所� (or call us lazy.) I害羞草研究所檝e worked hard all my life.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 so many things that haven害羞草研究所檛 been told; the history of the Okanagan people itself.害羞草研究所�

The billboards are supposed to make people think, he said, adding he hopes people will be curious about the billboard, with its visual message, and start asking questions.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 made to make to make you uncomfortable if you know the history. You can see the anguish and despair in those faces,害羞草研究所� said Terbasket.

The billboard will stand for two months on the side of highway. Northbound traffic have a chance to see it before they enter Lake Country. The collective has been developing the project since January, which was created through fundraising efforts.