VANCOUVER
Canada's first “Aboriginal arts” hotel has opened its doors to guests in the heart of Vancouver's historic downtown. Owned and operated by the Vancouver Native Housing Society (VNHS), Skwachàys Lodge offers an innovative approach to sustainable housing that combines cultural authenticity, business emphasis and community economic development.
Located at the crossroads of Vancouver's Gastown and Chinatown neighbourhoods, the hotel's architect preserved the century-old brick façade and designed a traditional northern longhouse to sit atop the heritage building. The rooftop longhouse features a 40.5-foot story pole—the Dreamweaver—reaching into the Vancouver skyline.
The hotel is a unique accommodation for small groups and other visitors seeking boutique lodgings, personalized services and an authentic Aboriginal cultural experience.
Six acclaimed Vancouver interior designers collaborated with six Aboriginal artists to create 18 distinctly themed rooms featuring original carvings, paintings, fabric, art, furniture and décor.
Guests can view and purchase original art in the hotel's Urban Aboriginal Fair Trade Gallery or attend a workshop with one of the artists who envisioned their hotel room. They can also partake in traditional Aboriginal cultural experiences including a sweat lodge and smudge room, or observe artists at work in the artist workshop.
Skwachàys Lodge is a new, sustainable model for supportive housing, and a for-profit hospitality business wholly owned and operated by the Vancouver Native Housing Society, a registered charitable organization. 100 percent of profits from the hotel operation and the fair trade gallery subsidize the 24 Aboriginal artist live/work studios housed at Skwachàys and further the VNHS mandate to improve the well being of Vancouver's urban Aboriginal people.
The property is located at 29/31 West Pender Street, Vancouver, B.C.
