TOTEM POLE - REDMOND ANDREWS

REDMOND “QAWAM” ANDREWS

LIL’WAT NATION

Redmond Q̓áwam̓ Andrews is an artisan wood carver carving in the stylings of the Lil’wat Nation. He is inspired by his late father Lhalqw Bruce Edmonds, who created many carvings at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre and in the surrounding community. He carved as an apprentice with Ed Archie NoiseCat of Lil’wat Nation on the Sqātsza7Tmicw – Father Land pole now standing in the Great Hall here at the SLCC. In 2021, he mentored Squamish Nation Artist Courtney Williams, carving a 7ft carved pole called 'Human transforming into and Eagle" on display at the Whistler Public Library. Redmond carved as an apprentice with Ses Siyam Chief Ray Natraoro a master carver of the Squamish Nation on the Community Reconciliation Canoe in the Salish Summer Carving Series in 2022 now on display in the Great Hall at the SLCC.  In 2024 he apprenticed with Jonathan Joe of the Lil’wat Nation for the Salish Summer Carving Series carving the Lil'wat Sister Pole "gaw̓ílc wit i ucwalmícwa / The People Got Together" that now stands outside the Istken Hall entrance to the SLCC. His art can be found in private collections around the world. Redmond is a graduate of the Indigenous Youth Ambassador Program and is a powerful singer, storyteller and Cultural Ambassador and part of the Spo7ez Performance Team at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre. 

“Acceptance”

A lady pregnant with a Sasquatch moves out to go live in the forest to raise her child. She was ashamed because she knew what life she was carrying. After she raised the Sasquatch she moved back to her community and didn’t mention where she had been. Her Sasquatch child would visit her almost every night. Eventually the Sasquatch were welcomed by the community. 

Before the project me and my younger sibling were expanding each other’s art through collaborative drawings and paintings. And slowly learning our energies.

During the process of making this I was living in Vancouver and was blessed to witness other nations at work keeping their cultures alive. As I was at a few of their ceremonies and celebrations they became very accepting of me