Xwechtaal served on Squamish Nations Chiefs and Council for 28 years and worked for his nation for 40 years. A traditionally trained speaker in the Coast Salish Longhouse, Xwechtaal has facilitated countless ceremonies for baby namings, puberty rites, weddings, and memorials.
For over 20 years, he took over a traditional role from his uncle. During times of loss of a loved one, Xwechtaal facilitated family meetings, MCd numerous funerals, and spiritually supported families and community during these difficult times.
As a co-founding member of the Squamish Nation Peacekeepers, he volunteered for 25 years, along the way building relationships with local RCMP and the West Vancouver Police. This led him to be the first Indigenous person in Canada to be appointed by the BC legislature to the West Vancouver Police Board.
For one year, Xwechtaal was Cultural Liaison for The Aboriginal Achievement Awards national broadcast held in Vancouver where he engaged an artist for set design and Coast Salish performers, and ensured Cultural Protocol was followed in the script and show. He was a Cultural Advisor leading up to the opening and closing ceremonies of the Vancouver/Whistler 2010 Winter Olympics.
Xwechtaal was a co-founding member of the rock and roll group Bitterly Divine, which played all major Olympic venues. The group also played the 2019 Festival of Lights and Harmony Arts Festival in West Vancouver. In 2023, they played at the Skookum Fest at Stanley Park. Also, in 2023, Xwechtaal joined the band Whytefeather. In summer 2023, they played the inaugural Indigifest at Victoria’s inner harbour and have a documentary currently being filmed about them.
Xwechtaal also plays in the duo The Hitchhikers with a Haida Gwaii brother Jamie Thompson where music is based on their respective cultures. In all groups, Dennis plays harmonica and sings back-up vocals.
For the last year and a half, Xwechtaal has been Cultural Advisor/Elder to Full Circle Performance/Talking Stick Festival, which was founded by recent Order of Canada recipient Actor Margo Kane.
Xwechtaal considers all Elders to be his teachers including those he was raised by, including three great grandparents, grandparents, and parents, most of whom were born and raised in our Longhouses and taught as they were in the great oral tradition.
