Cultural Connection: CFBC & Indigenous Skills at Expo 2025 in Osaka

Press Release

June 24, 2025

We’ve just returned from an unforgettable experience at Expo 2025 in Osaka, where we had the honour of sharing Indigenous Skills, stories, and culture on a truly global stage on behalf of the Province of British Columbia and BC Wood during BC Week June 2 – 6, 2025. The opportunity to engage with diverse audiences and celebrate the rich heritage of First Nations traditions was both humbling and inspiring.

At the heart of our participation was CFBC’s Artist in Residence and Indigenous Skills lead, Dean Heron. His exceptional talent paired with a generous spirit and deep cultural knowledge, left a lasting impression on the thousands of visitors who stepped into our space.

Over the course of the week, Dean presented 17 pieces of art, creating an immersive, hands-on experience that sparked meaningful conversations and cross-cultural connections. Using a creative mix of communication tools – including Google Translate, visual aids, and the support of incredible interpreters – these interactions transcended language barriers and often left a profound impact.

One especially moving moment came when Dean met a visitor who had lost his sight and didn’t speak English. Through translated descriptions and tactile engagement with the carvings, the visitor explored each piece with great interest – a reminder of how the language of art and culture can speak without words.

Dean also demonstrated traditional carving techniques and spoke in detail about the significance of each piece, the stories they carry, and the importance of passing skills from one generation to the next.

With more than 100,000 people visiting Expo 2025 each day, this event offered an extraordinary platform for cultural exchange — one we were proud to be part of. The celebration of knowledge, creativity, and international connection is something few venues can match, and we are deeply grateful to the Province of British Columbia and BC Wood for including CFBC in the BC Week celebrations.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Premier Eby and Agriculture Minister, Lana Popham for championing BC Week activations at Expo 2025.  In addition, we are immensely grateful to Laurie Peters, Commissioner General and Director of Canada’s participation at Expo 2025, the incredible staff at the Canada Pavilion, BC’s activation team on the ground in Osaka, our dedicated volunteer translators, and the warm, welcoming people of Osaka and Japan.

Arigatou gozaimasu. Thank you for allowing us to share culture and connection on such an amazing stage!

IBF5