'The Belonging Action,' 2011. Acrylics on crezone. 24ft. X 32ft. Harbour Centre Parkade, Coast Salish Territories, Vancouver, Canada.
The history of a place shared by lived experience, historians, and generational storytelling.
★ Commissioned with Vancouver 125 Community Mural Grant — $45,000
★ Hosted by iconic Harbour Centre Building in Gastown, Vancouver BC.
The Belonging Action
What are the stories of migration to Coast Salish lands across generations?
Ten young artists invited eighty other participants to reflect on their connection to belonging while exploring the migration histories of peoples and cultures to Coast Salish land since time immemorial. Key knowledge holders — including Wayde Compton, Sit Tan Chao, Lary Grant, and Cease Wyss — contributed stories woven into the mural’s imagery.
The final 24’ × 34’ mural was installed at Harbour Centre Parkade in 2011. More than a decade later, it continues to foster dialogue on history erasure, belonging, and systemic displacement.
Facilitators: Shadae Johnson, Rosa Owusu, Elaine Ng, Chrystal Sparrow, Mat Nordli, Josh Reigner, Sara Kendall, Nadia Chaney
Social Artist Lead & Facilitator: Melanie Schambach
Partner Organizations: City of Vancouver and grassroots groups
Funded by: Vancouver 125 Community Mural Grant
