02/17/2026
Meet Manuel, the artist creating a mural for the Iona Island Bird Observatory's banding hut as part of Stories in Flight. 🎨
"Manuel Axel Strain (b. 1990) is from the lands and waters of the xʷməθkʷəyəm (Musqueam), Simpcw, and Syilx peoples. Creating artwork in collaboration with and reference to their family, shared experiences become a source of agency for Strain. They perceive their work to confront and undermine the imposed realities of colonialism, proposing a new space beyond its oppressive systems of power. Strain was recently featured at Richmond Art Gallery and the Polygon Gallery, was longlisted for the 2022 Sobey Award, and was a 2022 recipient of the Portfolio Prize."
We’re really excited to unveil the mural and other interpretive signage at the upcoming community event! Manuel is drawing on pre-classical Coast Salish visual languages for the mural, to reflect IIBO’s monitoring work while honouring Indigenous understandings of birds as relatives and messengers.
Join us at Iona Beach Regional Park on Sunday Feb 22 (1-4pm). Register at canadahelps.org/en/charities/wildresearch-society/events/stories-in-flight-community-event.
❔ Stories in Flight brings together science, art, and land connection to share stories of the estuary, plants, and birds in a good way. Created by Paula Gomez Villalba in partnership with WildResearch, with support from Musqueam, Ocean Wise, and Metro Vancouver Parks.
