Mural Celebrates Respect, Leadership, and Connection to Land

April 21, 2026

A pair of eagles now look over the boardroom at the Chilliwack School District office. Artist Jared Deck from Ch'iyáqtel First Nation installed the mural over spring break. Deck is a self-taught Coast Salish artist who has worked extensively on Halq’eméylem language preservation. 

“The Eagle (sp’ó:q’es) - one of the Seven Teachings - is a symbol of respect. Since this is a place where the sí:yá:ms (respected leaders) in education come together, I think this teaching - and the sp’ó:q’es - fits the space really well. For me, the eagle has always been a symbol of leadership, spirit, and a higher power,” said Deck. 

The mural includes salmon heads to symbolize resources and a way of life. Two snakes border the top of the mural representing direction and journey. Masks in the eagles’ tail flow into the water representing power in nature. 

“There is also symbolism in the colour palette. The greyish green in the birds represents the trees and the rivers,” said Deck. “The Aléxey snakes (Álhqey snake) represent the clouds and wind and bring in the blue colour of the sky, but they’re shown in an earthy red to reflect a connection to the land, dirt, and red cedar.”
Deck is a Sardis Secondary alumnus who has created pieces for Chilliwack Mural Festival, Wilma’s Transition Society, The Lhewámel Project at Peach Park, and Heritage Village. He has also created logos for district schools including Vedder Middle and Evans Elementary. 

Deck has formal training in computer graphics, and most of his artwork is usually done digitally. However, this piece was a little different. 

“I feel very fortunate and fulfilled to be able to create a hand‑painted piece at this scale. While technological tools were still part of the process, it is very much a hand‑painted piece. Normally, I would use a projector or a grid method to scale up my designs, but for this mural I used a VR headset to sketch the design directly onto the wall for the first time,” he said. “For me, it’s been really interesting to create a traditional style of art using some of the most modern technology available.” 

A small committee identified key ideas and elements from the district’s strategic plan that were important to illustrate in the project. The committee chose Deck’s submission from a group of local artists who were invited to submit designs. 

Brenda Point, acting director Indigenous education was a member of the selection committee. 

“The artists in our community are storytellers who share cultural knowledge, history, and perspectives about the world around us — Solh Temexw. Through their work, artists carry teachings forward, offering visual reminders that guide how we should be with one another: grounded in relationship, guided by respect, and attentive to all living things and all peoples,” said Point. “We give thanks to Jared Deck of Ch'íyáqtel First Nation, whose work creates a powerful visual reminder for all who enter the school district boardroom, reflecting the teaching of the sp’ó:q’es.”