On October 28, 2026, səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation) Member artist Chris Overes and his daughter Tamia unveiled their artwork, ‘Beneath the Same Sky’, designed specifically for SFU’s sƛ̓exənew̓txʷ / Tl’e7enḵáw̓txw, the First Peoples’ Gathering House. The installation reflects the interconnected relationships among the four Host Nations while emphasizing the importance of belonging, cultural continuity, learning, and community.
Tsleil-Waututh Nation’s Gabriel George, Director of Language, Culture, and Protocol, Councillor Nicholas Kofi, and Cyrus George, Language Officer, led the cultural work as part of the unveiling.
“For SFU, this artwork is an expression of our commitment to Tsleil-Waututh, under our protocol agreement, to uphold Truth, Reconciliation and presence of Nation artwork,” said Chris Syeta’xtn Lewis, Indigenous Executive Lead. “We are deeply grateful to Chris and Tamia Overes for sharing their vision and artistry, and to Tsleil-Waututh Nation for its ongoing partnership, guidance and friendship.
“Beneath the Same Sky is a reminder of our shared connection and the relationships and responsibilities we hold to one another,” said Kaylena Ryan, Director, SFU’s Office for Indigenous Peoples. “It speaks to the importance of respecting the histories, knowledge and relationships that connect the Host Nations to these lands and recognizing our collective responsibilities to one another and to future generations. It also reminds us of the importance of creating spaces where Indigenous students, faculty, staff and community members feel a sense of belonging, connection and community.”
Artist Chris Overes shares the meaning and story behind the piece
Created by father-daughter artists Chris and Tamia Overes of səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), Beneath the Same Sky celebrates the relationships among the four Host Nations on whose traditional, unceded territories xʷtatəl̕ləm ʔə ƛ̓ səltaɬ sme:nt / Xwta7ltáw̓txw tl’a Lheḵw’lhúḵw’aytn (Simon Fraser University’s Burnaby campus) stands: səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation), xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Nation), and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem First Nation).
Created for sƛ̓exənew̓txʷ / Tl’e7enḵáw̓txw (the First Peoples’ Gathering House), the artwork reflects the building’s purpose as a place of belonging, cultural continuity, learning, and community. At the centre of the circular design is a spindle whorl, referencing Coast Salish weaving and the interweaving of distinct identities, cultures, histories, and futures. Surrounding it are representations of the Host Nations: The Wolf represents səlilwətaɬ responsibility as caretakers of the inlet’s lands and waters; the Thunderbird honours Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw’s ancestral connections to the mountains and skies; and the two Salmon represent xʷməθkʷəy̓əm and kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, symbolizing the importance of river systems, reciprocity, nourishment, and the interconnectedness of life.
The circular composition evokes continuity and the ongoing relationships between land, water, and people, while surrounding Coast Salish design elements extend outward as an invitation for all Indigenous peoples to feel welcomed and represented. Beneath the Same Sky celebrates unity without uniformity and the shared responsibility to care for future generations.
Photo Credit: Simon Fraser University and Chris Overes.
