More paintings for the Smithers Secondary School Honouring Our Elders Legacy Project have been installed.
According to Art Teacher Perry Rath, students who are asked to participate paint a living elder who has made contributions to the community.
He added there is always one Wet’suwet’en elder and one non-indigenous elder.
Rath said the project began in 2005 as a way to bridge cultures and generations.
“It was clear from the beginning that it was going to be a very powerful project and so we wanted to make sure it was a legacy project and so we can sustain it through the years,” he said.
Rath added that the project generally is held every two years.
“Often as well when we pair up who’s painting which elder, we’ll often try to have someone from different cultural backgrounds paint someone from the opposite cultural background,” he said.
In a Facebook post by Rath, he added that there were various delays in the installation process.
He also said to Vista Radio, there has been gratitude from the elders and the families involved regarding the paintings.
The portraits can be viewed along the building of Smithers Secondary School.