Spirit Works is a company not just focused on the bottom line. We at Spirit Works believe in community. We’ve set aside a quarter of our studio, located on Squamish First Nation lands, for community objectives such as workshops, youth forums, or to support local artists in their pursuit of larger artworks.
Spirit Works believes that the passing down of knowledge is an obligation. In furtherance of this belief Spirit Works provides employment and training opportunities to Aboriginal youth wishing to learn joinery, Indigenous art, or both. We work closely with Aboriginal Community Career Employment Services Society (ACCESS) to fill these positions as they become available.
After developing and launching many social justice and cultural revitalization projects Spirit Works has created an organization better able to facilitate the needs in our Indigenous communities on many fronts. We accomplish this with the help of our many Champions who are on the front lines supporting our Indigenous communities. Please visit Golden Eagle Rising Society at www.goldeneaglerising.org
Box by Shain Jackson donated by Spirit Works to the First Nations Law Students Scholarship Fund. A Large painted bentwood box inlaid with abalone and adorned with copper chasing work. Artwork is a Thunderbird embracing person in its breast. It represents the nature people should aspire to when in possession of power and courage. Our prestige is not based on simply having these qualities but what we do with them. In this case the law firm of Janes, Kyle, Freedman used resources obtained from their practice of law to assist needy students to achieve new heights. Sold for $8,400.00.
Spirit Works takes pride in the workshops we provide for our young ones. Throughout the years we’ve developed a number of workshops aimed at not only providing the participants with a great amount of enjoyment but also offering them teachings. In Aboriginal culture we learned primarily through artwork which was and is our written language. When we are taught how to make something we are also taught a range of lessons surrounding the creation of that piece. After the completion of the piece we are left with a constant reminder of those teachings.
Several times a year, through organizations such as Friendship Centers, and Urban Native Youth Association, Spirit Works donates instruction and materials to youth wanting to learn about our Culture through art.
