Vines Rooted Relations (RR), formally known as Resilient Roots, creates meaningful performance opportunities and artistic pathways for emerging Indigenous artists. The program has been shaped by Senaqwila Wyss, a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh ethnobotanist; jaz whitford, a Secwépemc visual artist, poet, and community organizer; Heather Lamoureux, mixed-European ancestry and Artistic Director of Vines Art Festival; and many other artists whose teachings and practices continue to guide the work.
Rooted Relations supports the development and mentorship of urban emerging Indigenous artists through commissions, paid opportunities, and guidance from established Indigenous mentors. This work was shaped by queer/two-spirit artists aging out of foster care who had a lot to say. Rooted Relations supports meets artists where they are at, encourages full expression from those who are silenced in many spaces and speaks truth to power.
Rooted Relations Touring Projects create artistic spaces for emerging Indigenous artists and for the communities they come from. This work is done with deep respect for community boundaries, protocols, and cultural processes. Together with local partners, we co-create Vines events in small, predominantly Indigenous communities throughout what is colonially known as British Columbia.
Vines artists travel to places of ongoing Indigenous resistance to broaden the reach of our mission and to support artists who may not have access to city-based resources. The touring projects have worked in:
The idea for this work originated with the vision for a program where youth formerly in care could reconnect with ancestral ways and lands without financial barriers or bureaucratic constraints.
Our first touring trip took place in 2019, visiting Lil’Wat and St’át’imc communities. Connected through Vines mentor Cease Wyss (T'uy't'tanat), we spent a week in Lil’Wat offering workshops with youth and Elders culminating in a community concert featuring local artists and visitors from Vines. In St’át’imc, hosted a gathering of eight young poets and singers, sparking a multi-year relationship with Ulluilsc.
Ulluilsc, a St’át’imc reoccupation of a traditional village site, protects the land from forestry and mining exploitation. Our work with Ulluilsc continues to ground our understanding of land defense, resurgence, and the role of artists within movements for sovereignty.
Our next significant milestone came in 2020 with the Black Snake Killas Tour, which brought us to Shulus in Nlaka’pamux territory and Sqeq’petsin in Secwepemc territory. This gathering and feast welcomed home a youth canoe journey and supported the establishment of culturally grounded community-led action.
Plant and Seedling Giveaway and Medicinal Plant Knowledge T’uy’t’tanat Cease Wyss. Giveaway of a selection of native plants to including berry bushes!. Music with Tsawaysia, No 1 Special and The Understanding.
We gather with our relatives to celebrate our ancestors and our way of life as ucwalmicw
From nation to nation we continue to nourish our relationships with one another and also in acknowledgment of our ancestral laws. There is much to be said about the hardships we have faced as a people and even through the hardest times we gather and share our melaomen/medicine with each other. Keeping our sacred circle connected. An evening of healing music and words from local and visiting artists. It is in the balance of the simplicity and complexities of our way of life that led our ancestors and as we lay down our own markers on the path our people are on today that is why we have gathered and will always continue to come together in this way.
A celebration of Our Sacred Water! And an acknowledgment of the many water protection campaigns that have taken place on Secwepemc and Nlaka’pamux territories, and are inviting speakers to share about those struggles. We feast together, share our stories, and celebrate with live music. Historically, and in the present, our nations are traditional allies, and our respect and value for our land and water are the same. We’ve struggled through the same invasion, survived the same genocide and are united to protect our territories from the destructive projects to take a stand for clean water
Harmony Garden, X̱wemelch’stn pen̓em̓áy, is a fourteen-year-old food forest and place of community, offering a safe, vibrant, colorful and creative place for gathering and connection. The arts are naturally incorporated into the space, as Harmony Garden partners with emerging Indigenous artists on a variety of projects. The garden invites visitors to learn about the Indigenous plants that grow throughout Sḵwx̱wú7mesh land, many of which are growing right there in the garden.
Human caused climate change and crisis have shaken the very foundation of our Nlaka’pamux territory and communities and beyond. Coyote has transformed the land yet again, and the time for a reawakening of life moving forward and the reawakening of our responsibility to take care of the land is on us.
Vines has shared in multiple hide tanning workshops where
A celebration of the building of a greenhouse and planting the seeds that will feed the frontlines throughout the coming year. We feast together, share our stories, and celebrate with live music.