The Island in the Middle of Everywhere
Discover the Island in the Middle of Everywhere at the Qualicum Beach Museum
QUALICUM BEACH, JUNE 2026 — The Qualicum Beach Museum invites you on a remarkable journey to Xwe’etay, also known as Lasqueti Island, part of the Northern Gulf Islands in British Columbia. Through a series of stunning photographs and a video, The Island in the Middle of Everywhere showcases the archaeological work in progress and the beauty of the island itself. On loan from Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, the exhibition opens June 4th at the Qualicum Beach Museum in Qualicum Beach, B.C.
The Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Archaeological Project (XLAP) featured in the exhibition has brought together Coast Salish peoples and settler residents to honour the age-old Indigenous presence on Lasqueti Island. The island is the traditional home of Northern Coast Salish peoples. Before Europeans arrived, the Northern Coast Salish skillfully managed the land and sea of Xwe’etay to create a rich and secure supply of fish, clams, plants, and other foods. Along the shore, below the high-tide line, terraces were built to increase clam numbers and productivity. Fish traps captured salmon and herring. In grassy areas, Indigenous cultivators raised beds of the beautiful purple camas lily, harvested for its starchy bulb.
These practices created a landscape of food that fed generations of Xwe’etay residents. Today, the XLAP archaeological team is uncovering how Indigenous people sustainably produced food over thousands of years. The remains of these practices are reminders of the deep history of Indigenous People on Xwe’etay and why it is vitally important to protect that heritage today.
The exhibition was co-curated by the XLAP and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum with the support of Fisheries and Oceans Canada on the Aquaculture Initiative, and reflects Ingenium’s ongoing commitment to its Indigenous Foodways research initiative. The exhibition is on display at the Qualicum Beach Museum until October 8, 2026.
About Qualicum Beach Museum
The Qualicum Beach Museum is the steward of the natural and social history of Qualicum Beach, sharing the stories and objects that highlight the character of the area. Visitors to the Museum experience exhibits that honour the history of the Qualicum First Nation and celebrate the resilience of Coast Salish contemporary language and culture, learn about the growth of the Town and its connection to the railway, fisheries, and tourism, and explore one of the finest paleontological collections in Western Canada.
About Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation
Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation oversees three national museums of science and innovation in Ottawa — the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, the Canada Aviation and Space Museum, and the Canada Science and Technology Museum. Its lngenium Centre houses an exceptional collection of artifacts, research institute, and digital innovation lab. Our museums, digital content, outreach programs, travelling exhibitions, and collaborative spaces help to educate, entertain, and engage audiences across Canada and around the world. Our mandate is to bring science literacy and inspiration to Canadians of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds.
About Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Archaeology Project
The over-arching goal of the Xwe’etay/Lasqueti Archaeology Project is to find ways to more fully honour, respect, and protect Indigenous heritage. The focus of the project is on Xwe’etay, also known as Lasqueti Island, in the Salish Sea of British Columbia, as it is a microcosm for larger heritage issues in British Columbia and beyond. Their team is a collective of people from Indigenous and settler communities who have heritage connections to Xwe’etay/Lasqueti and who are committed to co-creating a better model for heritage recognition and protection.
