Musqueam artists Debra and Aleen Sparrow collaborate with HSBC SVNS Vancouver

The work of Musqueam artists Debra Sparrow and Aleen Sparrow will be featured at HSBC SVNS Vancouver, with Debra and VMF’s Blanketing the City: Lighting the Way illuminating BC Place and the tournament’s gold medal designed by Aleen. 

Blanketing the City: Lighting the Way will light up BC Place as part of the Winter Arts Festival from February 23 to 27. During HSBC SVNS Vancouver, which runs February 23 to 25, Debra’s design will be illuminated on the stadium’s Northern Lights Display at sunset, giving a visual acknowledgement of the territory on which the tournament is being held, before the lights shift later in the evening to show the flags of the tournament’s participating countries. 

The Blanketing the City public art series by Debra has been co-produced in collaboration with VMF, the producers of the Winter Arts Festival, since 2017. Debra is an acclaimed weaver and designer who has played a pivotal role in the ongoing revival of Musqueam weaving and whose work can be seen at numerous national and international museums and institutions. Through Blanketing the City, Debra hopes to encourage Indigenous and non-Indigenous people to begin building a deeper understanding of living Coast Salish Culture. Blanketing the City: Lighting the Way, is the latest iteration of the installation, transposing Coast Salish weaving patterns onto the exterior of Vancouver’s most iconic buildings, including BC Place.

“As BC Place prepares to host spectators from all over the world during the upcoming HSBC SVNS Vancouver tournament, it’s a great opportunity to welcome those visitors and showcase the rich art, culture and traditions of the Musqueam people to an international audience,” said Debra.  

“Over many years I have been Blanketing The City with VMF. Now with the Winter Arts Festival we are using BC Place's lighting to share this artwork on a grand scale with Coast Salish weaving patterns, colours and stories. Blanketing the City is an honour for our People here, it is a reflection of how we identify ourselves and how important blankets are in Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh culture and every aspect of our life and history, it's about our values." 

Aleen, a weaver, artist and model who learned how to weave from her mother, Debra, who she also owns Salish Blanket Co. with, designed the HSBC SVNS Vancouver gold medal, which will be awarded to the winning women’s and men’s sevens team following the Cup finals on Sunday February 25. 

“The gold medal I designed embodies the spirit of resilience and connection to nature deeply rooted in my Musqueam culture,” said Aleen. “Drawing from the traditions of our Salish textiles weaving, a responsibility passed down to me by my mother, Debra Sparrow, I integrated a design reminiscent of a mountain, symbolizing the strength and endurance of our people. Just as our ancestors found inspiration in the natural world, I believe today’s athletes draw upon their own inner strength and perseverance to excel in their sport. 

“The Salish eye design, derived from our mountain goat horn bracelets, represents our Salish identity, while the word “t̓ᶿɑʔkʷs" in the middle, meaning “seven” in our Musqueam language, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, pays homage to the sport’s essence.  

“Like our Indigenous ancestors who excelled in athletic pursuits such as pulling canoes and playing lacrosse, these players embody the same spirit of athleticism and competition, making this medal a symbol of triumph over adversity. The top of the mountain is our motivation, but it’s in the journey where our strength is found, echoing the challenges and victories experienced both on the field and in life.” 

Each year, Vancouver Sevens partners with one of the three local First Nations, xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), collaborating on territorial acknowledgements, medal designs, Captains Photo, and more. This year's partner is Musqueam. In addition, for the first time in the event’s history, the host city name will be displayed on the centreboards in BC Place in the languages of the local First Nations, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and sqʷχʷoʔməʃ snit͡ʃim. 

More information on HSBC SVNS Vancouver, including where to purchase tickets, can be found at vansevens.com.  

More information on Vancouver Mural Festival and Blanketing the Way can be found here.