Over the last few months, the W̱SÁNEĆ Lands Trust Society (WLTS) hosted an open call for artists to submit their ideas for a new logo. The winner would receive $750 and their artwork would be used in all WLTS communications materials, including the forthcoming website.

As numerous talented artists submitted their art, it was a difficult decision made by the WLTS advisory committee. 

The WLTS is pleased to offer a warm congrats to LessLIE (Sam) as the winner of the W̱SÁNEĆ Lands Trust Society Logo contest!

LessLIE (Sam) is of Cowichan and Penelakut descent and proudly works in the Coast Salish design style. Shares LessLIE “My design is of a Salish sun over the foothills of Saanich, designed in the spirit of late Charles Elliott.”

Also of note is runner-up Love Raven, born in 1981 Chilliwack BC, raised in Maui HI, and currently living in Vancouver BC. 

While attending UVIC in 1999 Love was reunited with her Birth-family, and became a member of Pauquachin First Nation.  Graduating from UVIC in 2007 with a BFA in Visual Arts and in 2020 for Foundations in Designs at KPU, a program offered through SNTTC.  Love enjoys anything creative, focusing mainly on pen and ink line drawings, she also participates in painting with all mediums, and on many surfaces, currently combining the two within the layers of illustrator. 

Through the years Love Raven has been learning more about her culture and has begun to incorporate Coast Salish designs into her art and creative style.  Living between BC and Maui Love draws from both identities and creates from the heart.

Shares Love about her design, “Water at the base and waves along the sides represent the ocean, we are the Saltwater People; the mountain serves as the land, the land trust, both regarding our obligation to care for the land and waters since the beginning of time.  A cedar tree was chosen for its reverence and relevance.  Its roots have a heart at their base representing our roots within our lands and communities, the branch layers mimic cedar hats with Salish eyes looking up, and the background as a wood grain making the entirety appear as an artists’ panel, all of which are connected to cedar.  The red sun/moon is the source of light,  its shape replicated down the centre of the tree 4 times, a sacred number.”

The WLTS is grateful to everyone who entered the logo contest and offers a huge congrats to both LessLIE and Love Raven.