

Nine Places for Seeing is the first Platforms program dedicated exclusively to the work of Indigenous artists and was developed in collaboration with advisors from each of the city’s three Host Nations.
Over the course of the next two years, Platforms: Nine Places for Seeing will be showcased on multiple public platforms throughout the city and will present new works regularly.
It will feature newly commissioned works by 21 local xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh), and urban Indigenous artists.
Platform locations
Artworks will be displayed on these platforms:
- Billboards along 6th Avenue between Arbutus and Fir
- Light box at šxʷƛ̓ exən Xwtl’a7shn Plaza
- Banners at Vancouver Public Library, Central Branch
- Glass wall at City Centre Canada Line Station
- Transit shelter posters throughout the city
- VanLive! video screen, Robson St and Granville St
- Glass wall at Marine Drive Canada Line Station
- Windows at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
- Windows at the Vancouver Playhouse
Current projects
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Gordon Dick Brighter Future
Presented on transit shelters throughout the city from November 6 to December 17.
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Shoshannah Greene, Raven N' The City
Presented on the windows of Canada Line City Centre Station until March 15, 2024.
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Kitty Guerin, sʔi:ɬqəy̓
Installed as banners in the central atrium at the Vancouver Public Library Central Branch, October 2023 to May 2024.
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Robin Roberts, Coming Home To
Presented at Canada Line King Edward Station, September 19, 2023 to March 15, 2024.
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Shain Niniwem Selapem Jackson, Eagle Woman
Presented at Canada Line Olympic Village Station, September 22, 2023 to March 15, 2024.
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Aaron Nelson-Moody, He Walked a Giant
Presented on the šxʷƛ̓ exən Xwtl’a7shn Plaza lightbox, June 2023 to June 2024.
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Atheana Picha, Spring Awakening
Presented on Vancouver Playhouse windows, June 2023.
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Lauren Crazybull, Present Presence
Presented on the Marine Drive Canada Line Station glass wall, June 2023 to June 2024.
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Olivia George, Humble Bee
Presented on Queen Elizabeth Theatre windows, June 2023
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Soloman Chiniquay and jaz whitford, Tidââîgikthiyabich (Missing home and the way it used to be)
Presented on 5 billboard faces along 6th Ave between Burrard St and Fir St, August to November 2023.
Artist biographies
The Bear Mother story
In Haida there is the belief that animals are people. When the animals are in their world, they can take off their animal blankets and clothes and transform into people in their villages and realms.
A chief’s daughter was out berry-picking with friends and family when she noticed bear poop all over. She began to ridicule bears for pooping everywhere. The bears took notice and decided to teach her a lesson. As these bears can transform into human form, they did, and tricked her into coming to their village.
Time is different in the animal realm. There, she grew quickly, decided to marry one of those bears that tricked her, and then had two cubs with him. Eventually, she found out her family in the human realm was looking for her. She let her bear-husband know that she was homesick and really wanted to go home and be with her family. He knew he could not be with her in the human realm as a bear, and therefore sacrificed himself for her to go, on the condition that she shared his story and dance with her lineage, family, and clan. The girl’s brothers killed her husband, and she took her 2 bear cubs back to the human realm to live with her people.