Zac George’s Syewá:l (Ancestors) house post

For səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) artist Zac George, his house post titled Syewá:l—meaning “Ancestors”—embodies the deep-rooted relationship between the local Nations and the Robson Street corridor, an area historically used for hunting and food gathering. The work also reflects his personal lineage.

The post honours his grandfather, the late Chief Dan George, who is portrayed toward its base, just above a traditional Coast Salish weaving pattern.

At the top sits a carved takaya (wolf) face, symbolizing the Tsleil-Waututh people having descended from the Wolf Clan, while the figure beneath it pays tribute to the women and grandmothers in his ancestry.

Zac George Sko-Kay-Lem is a member of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. He was born and raised in North Vancouver and now lives in Sts’ailes, BC.

His work is inspired by his late grandparents, Chief Dan and Amy George, and Robert and Betty Edge. Zac studied carving with Don Joe of Sts’ailes and is proud to use the Coast Salish artistic style.

He lives the rich cultural lifestyle of the Salish People and follows the traditional spirituality practiced by his people for centuries. 

Image: Zac George holding a portrait of the late Chief Dan George.

Unlike the totem poles commonly associated with northern Indigenous cultures, the Coast Salish peoples have long carved and continue to carve house posts—large wooden structures that support the beams of longhouses or mark significant ceremonial spaces.

These posts hold both architectural and cultural importance. Their carvings depict spirit figures, family crests, and ancestral stories, serving as powerful expressions of identity, heritage, and spiritual meaning for the Nations they represent.