Canada’s Oldest First Nations Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product haas^i>sa “Interesting News” Vol. 33 - No. 11 - June 1, 2006 Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Tseshaht First Nation raises first totem poles in more than a century By Denise August, Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter Port Alberni – Tseshaht First Nation proudly hosted a celebration May 29th marking the raising of the first totem poles in their traditional territory in more than 100 years. The `tii`ckin or Thunderbird project started last year with the hiring of Hesquiaht master carver @i>`cinik, Tim Paul, who consulted with Tseshaht Elders about the design of the poles before carving began. Paul then directed three apprentice carvers from Tseshaht First Nation: Willard Gallic Jr., Gordon Dick, and Tobias Watts along with Samuel Albany, Songhees and Cayle Osborne, Lax Kw’Alaams, Port Simpson. A key part of the Thunderbird project is to hand down skills and cultural teachings to younger generations in order to keep the art alive for future generations. Paul spent the early part of 2005 consulting with Tseshaht Elders Allan Dick, Robert Thomas and others. He heard their stories and incorporated their ideas with images of nature and spirituality into the two 25 foot poles. According to the Thunderbird Project information brochure, ‘the designs on the poles represent our ancestors, our grandmothers and grandfathers, naniiqsu. The poles depict the world with the sun, the bear with the half moon, the whale with the medicine box, and the thunderbird is also an extension of the family curtain.’ The massive cedar logs used to make the poles came from Tzartus Island in the Broken Group, courtesy of Coast Forest Management. The Elders told Paul of their family history as whalers. Closely associated with the whale in Nuu-chah-nulth culture is the Thunderbird, who himself is a great whaler who would travel out to sea and, with his great talons, carry a whale back to his nest. Tseshaht Elders say the mountains are
where the great Thunderbird made their nests; in the mountain range that surrounds Alberni Valley. According to Paul, the finished poles will include a grizzly bear, wolves, Thunderbirds and whales; creatures important to all Nuuchah-nulth-aht. All of these images and more are captured on the poles for future generations to enjoy. Apprentice carver Willard Gallic Jr. says work started on the poles in June 2005. He estimates it took ten weeks to complete each pole and they were finished by the end of October. When asked what he got out of the experience he answered, “Tim Paul taught me patience, pride and how to pass on these teachings to younger generations,” that, he said, “was the most important lesson.” The poles were ‘allowed to sleep’ over the winter as Tseshaht Market Staff prepared the site where the poles would be erected. At 7:00am on May 29th, excited members of the community gathered at Tseshaht Market to witness an event of grand historical significance. Tseshaht Elder Alan Dick introduced himself and thanked the Creator for allowing such a great thing to happen for all to see. There was a spiritual cleansing ceremony for the poles and their resting sites first carried out by Tseshaht then by Hesquiaht. The first massive pole was then raised by crane before an enthralled audience who watched in silence. They cheered loudly when the pole was finally upright and positioned on its base. The raising of the second pole was delayed as the crowd waited for the welders to arrive to safely secure the first pole in place. Tseshaht Elder Willard Gallic Sr. thanked the crowd on behalf of his Ha’wiih, the people and Tseshaht Market. He called the event historic saying in his lifetime he has never seen a pole raised in the Alberni Valley. Master of Ceremonies Mike Watts
Tseshaht Chief Councillor Les Sam performs cleansing ceremony.
Clayoquot Sound Interim Measures Agreement .. Page 3 Oil Recycling now an option ................................... Page 7 PAFC launches new program ................................. Page 9 BC Elder’s Gathering Fundraiser .......................... Page 11 Tsawaayuus honoured volunteers ........................ Page 12 NEDC Business News ............................................ Page 20
Totem carvers: Tobias Watts, Gordon Dick, Willard Gallic Jr., Cayle Osborne and master carver Tim Paul. More on page 6. introduced Master Carver Tim Paul and apprentices Willard Gallic Jr., Tobias Watts, Gordon Dick and Cayle Osborne before the second pole was raised. Tim Paul described the pole-raising as history-in-the-making. “These two poles represent how we converse with nature; nature gives us doorways to walk into; to wake up and bring out what has always been there,” he explained. Guests of the pole raising were invited to a feast at Maht Mahs later that day where Hesquiaht First Nation presented a song to Tseshaht to commemorate the occasion because Tim Paul is Hesquiaht. Tseshaht also acknowledged those that made generous donations for the project: Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, Coast
Forest Management, BMO Bank of Montreal, Donovan & Company Barristers and Solicitors, Alberni Engineering, Lubor Trubka Associates Architects, British Columbia Lottery Corporation, Pepsi Bottling Group Canada, Alberni District Co-op, Securco Services, Industrial Plastics & Paints Nanaimo, Native Northwest Garfinkel Publications, Canterbury Food Services Ltd., The Hospitality Inn. The poles have been named ci`saa%a (Benson Island) and a>aat (China Creek). They may be seen in the area between Tseshaht Market and Nuuchah-nulth Economic Development Offices.
If undeliverable, please return to: Ha-Shilth-Sa P.O. Box 1383, Port Alberni, B.C. V9Y 7M2
ISSN 0715-4143