On Tuesday, June 11th, a truly unique public art installation entitled “We Acknowledge” was unveiled on the plaza at Capital Park in Victoria. Renowned artist Adam Kuby shared his series of three distinct stone compositions placed around the plaza which are complemented by engraved statements of welcome, in Lekwungen (the traditional language of the Songhees First Nation), and acknowledgement, in English. Each composition weighs about 2,200 kilograms and speaks to the relationship between contemporary Canada and the ecology, geology and pre-European history that are an integral part of British Columbia.
The artwork is an acknowledgement of these relationships, communicated through cut stone slabs, natural boulders, engraved text, and maps and is intended to provoke thought and conversation surrounding themes of reconciliation, friendship and community among the Lekwungen and the non-indigenous people who share the region.
Event host Robert Jawl acknowledged the exceptional efforts of the artist, members of the Songhees First Nation, PWL Landscape Architects, specialty fabricators and community participants who worked collaboratively for more than a year to bring this project to fruition.