October 26, 2011
Premier Christy Clark, artist Arthur Vickers and Lieutenant Governor Steven Point stand beside the Leadership Desk, now in the Lieutenant Governor's office at Government House.
The Leadership Desk
The Leadership Desk, a gift to the people of British Columbia to be held by the Government of B.C, was hand-crafted with old growth red cedar by renowned artist Arthur Vickers. It was created in the form of a bentwood box and is adorned with First Nation's iconography.
"As the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and the ceremonial home of all British Columbians, I think Government House it is the most appropriate place for it in the province," said the Lieutenant Governor.
At the short ceremony to install the desk in the Lieutenant Governor's office, Premier Clark said, "This is a beautiful and functional piece of art that brings together the natural beauty of British Columbia's forests and the creativity of its people. It is also a wonderful example that profiles Mr. Vicker's immense talents."
Mr. Vickers is also happy to see his creation being used in Government House by The Queen's representative in British Columbia.
"I am very pleased the Lieutenant Governor is now using the Leadership Desk and that it will remain in his office," said Vickers. "Lieutenant Governors should be an inspiration for all people across the province."
The Iconography and Design of the Desk
The Leadership Desk contains many symbolic messages within the First Nations iconography.
On the front of the desk, the design represents leadership at its very roots. The eagle is adorned with feathers as its wings, spread as a blanket of protection for the young eaglet below. The story of an eagle's feather is told in First Nation's legends and Vickers has always been inspired by it as it tells the story of all living things. In the case of the Leadership Desk, the past and present are told, as the future will be, through the eagle's feathers.
As the eaglet looks out, its head is also the body of the eagle. The large feet and legs of the eagle are also the feet and legs of the young eaglet. At the base of the eagle's wings are the tiny, fragile developing wings of the eaglet. As it matures, the protective down adorning its body slowly disappears. As the feathers grow, the eaglet transforms through the care and dedication of the eagle so that it, too, may soar above any storm. Without its feathers the eagle could not fly. As well, the feather has two sides, a light side and a dark side, representing the good and the bad of the past, present and future. To Vickers, this also reflects the importance of the decision making process when acting as a leader.
"The creator gave us two eyes, one sees bad things, while the other only good," explains Vickers. "We were given two ears. One hears only bad things while the other, only good. We were given two hands, one that strikes out to harm, the other reaches out in kindness. We were given two feet, one leads us down the wrong path and the other always leads us down the right path. We have a mind that gives us a choice every moment of every day to make the wrong decision or the right decision. The future is affected by the decisions made by the leader of the day and will effect generations to come."
The designs on the back of the desk are the male and female of this generation from the youngest to the eldest. They stand with their hands outstretched and in an entrusting and supportive gesture. In the hands of the female are the salmon/trout heads, as salmon has been a precious source of nourishment that has sustained the cycle of life and the people of British Columbia. The male is symbolically standing on precious recovered old growth cedar to remind us of its importance to our communities.
The side images are those of the future, the next generation to come. The young male and female are very fragile as they develop within the eggs. The care and dedication at this time determines the future of the next generation.
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