FLEET: Foreshore

May 14 -  July 9, 2026

We are excited to welcome Aleen Sparrow to FLEET: Foreshore! 

Aleen Sparrow is a Musqueam weaver who learned her practice from her mom, Debra Sparrow. She grew up watching her mom and aunties weave together at the kitchen table, where wool, tea and conversation were always present. Those moments shaped how she understands weaving today, not just as making blankets, but as time spent together, sharing knowledge and supporting one another.

Aleen spins her own wool and approaches each blanket with care and intention. She believes every piece carries the energy of the maker, so she does her best to live her life in a good way and put positive thoughts into her work while she weaves. Each blanket holds patience, time and a quiet connection between the hands that made it and the person who will receive it.

During her visit to FLEET, Aleen will be working on mountain goat wool processing, spinning sheep’s wool, and weaving ceremonial blankets.

Visit FLEET & meet the artist during one of the days she’s working in the studio, or at a workshop! Details below.

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OPEN STUDIO DAYS: Drop in between 1-3pm on any of the following dates, visit with the artist and see what she’s making. You’ll notice the “FLEET is Open” sign :)

May 14, 15, 18, 20, 23, 25, 27, 29th

June 1, 2, 3, 8, 10, 12, 15, 16, 17, 22, 24, 26, 29th

July 2nd

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WORKSHOPS:

Weaving & Wellness 

Wednesday July 1st from 10am-noon (time TBC)

Join Aleen Sparrow and Jessica Barudin of Indigenous Yoga Collective (IYC) for an exploration of moving meditation and creativity through Yoga and weaving. No experience necessary. Aleen has found that practices like Yoga, canoe pulling, weaving, and running have been truly healing along her journey, and she’s looking forward to sharing some of these in collaboration with her dear friend.

Please bring a Yoga mat, blanket & water bottle. 

The workshop will be nearby FLEET: Foreshore, possibly outside in the grass or at the beach, weather dependent. 

Registration details to come. This workshop is FREE and will be open to Indigenous folks.

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Artist Talk with Debra Sparrow 

Sunday July 5th from 1-3pm

Join Aleen's mom, Debra Sparrow for an afternoon talk and learn about Musqueam history and textiles, and the Salish Woolly Dog. Debra Sparrow has been deeply involved with the revival of Musqueam weaving for over thirty years and has spent many years studying, experimenting, and learning directly from the work of her ancestors. The Salish Woolly Dog is a small, long-haired dog known by Coast Salish peoples for its wool, an essential part of weaving and cultural traditions.

Registration details to come. FREE, everyone is welcome.

This workshop is timed with our neighbours' Pay What You Can days (first Sunday of the month): The Museum of Vancouver, The Vancouver Maritime Museum, and the HR MacMillan Space Centre.

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Artist Bios:

Aleen Sparrow

Aleen Sparrow is a Musqueam weaver who learned her practice from her mom, Debra Sparrow. She grew up watching her mom and aunties weave together at the kitchen table, where wool, tea and conversation were always present. Those moments shaped how she understands weaving today, not just as making blankets, but as time spent together, sharing knowledge and supporting one another.

Aleen spins her own wool and approaches each blanket with care and intention. She believes every piece carries the energy of the maker, so she does her best to live her life in a good way and put positive thoughts into her work while she weaves. Each blanket holds patience, time and a quiet connection between the hands that made it and the person who will receive it.

Supporting emerging weavers is important to Aleen because she understands how knowledge has been passed to her. By teaching and sharing what she has learned, she hopes Salish weaving will continue to grow strong for future generations. She also carries something her mom often says: every culture comes from textile people. We all had to clothe ourselves and through textiles we can find connection with one another across time and place.

Debra Qwasen Sparrow

Debra Sparrow has been deeply involved with the revival of Musqueam weaving for over thirty years and has spent many years studying, experimenting, and learning directly from the work of her ancestors. Her work has been collected and exhibited nationally and internationally, including at the University of British Columbia, the Canadian Museum of History (previously the Museum of Civilization), the Royal BC Museum, the Vancouver International Airport (YVR Collections), the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Seattle), and the Smithsonian Institution.

She was the recipient of the BC Creative Achievement Award for First Nations Art in 2008. Most recently, she participated in The Fabric of Our Land: Salish Weaving at the Museum of Anthropology at UBC as both an exhibitor and as a regular, active weaving demonstrator using a traditional loom from the museum collection.

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Location:

FLEET: Foreshore is located at 1100 Chestnut Street in Vancouver near The H.R. MacMillan Space Centre’s Observatory (“Gordon Southam Observatory”) The Museum of Vancouver, and the Sen̓áḵw Towers. Colonial name “Vanier Park”.

FLEET: Foreshore is generously supported by The British Columbia Arts Council, City of Vancouver, and Canada Council for the Arts.

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Image credit: Photo of Aleen Sparrow by Georgie Lawson.

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