A powerful carving has been unveiled to welcome and watch over visitors to the Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣� traditional territories within the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve.
The totem was carved by renowned artist Clifford George through a collaboration between Parks Canada and the Elders Working Group with Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣� elders choosing a cixwatin, eagle, to be placed within their territory at the Park ReserveB次元官网网址檚 southern border.
B次元官网网址淭he way I saw it in my mind is just the way it is as you see it,B次元官网网址� George told the Westerly B次元官网网址 after a June 28 unveiling celebration. B次元官网网址淚 was looking forward to this day. IB次元官网网址檓 so happy that they chose me to do the pole for them. Today is a really exciting day.B次元官网网址�
Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣� GovernmentB次元官网网址檚 director of culture, language and heritage Carey Cunneyworth told the Westerly that the cixwatin was chosen because of its ability to watch over everyone.
B次元官网网址淭he eagle flies above with great sight. It sees all and itB次元官网网址檚 the being that can see everything. ItB次元官网网址檚 observing every one of us when it flies up high and it watches everybody passing in and out of the Park Reserve protecting everybody,B次元官网网址� Cunneyworth said.
The Park ReserveB次元官网网址檚 superintendent Dave Tovell told the Westerly that the Elders Working Group had provided a myriad of advice throughout the construction of the recently completed 蕯aps膷iik t虛a拧ii multi-use path that spans the 25 kilometres between the Park ReserveB次元官网网址檚 southern and northern borders. Through the group, Tla-o-qui-aht and Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣� elders collaborated on the commemoration of both Nations through carved monuments that reflect the connection between the two communities and the Park Reserve, according to Tovell.
B次元官网网址淭hey gave the direction that it shouldnB次元官网网址檛 be a Parks led commemoration piece, it should be Indigenous led,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧arks Canada came up with the mechanisms to provide funding to both Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣� and Tla-o-qui-aht to do what they wanted to do in their territory to represent what they wanted to representB次元官网网址he Elders working group really gave this whole project direction and guidance on how to work together in a good way.B次元官网网址�
He noted that Tla-o-qui-aht carver Joe Martin had carved the stunning wolves located near Incinerator Rock on the other end of the Park Reserve within the Tla-o-qui-ahtB次元官网网址檚 traditional territories
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a nice match to CliffordB次元官网网址檚 and JoeB次元官网网址檚 work and the connection of the two Nations,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e super proud of the relationship between the Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣� Government, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Parks Canada and how this project has kind of tied it and created a closer relationship between the three governments.B次元官网网址�
He added GeorgeB次元官网网址檚 cixwatin was placed to be seen by all the drivers, cyclists and pedestrians heading into the Park Reserve to raise awareness of whose traditional territories theyB次元官网网址檙e in.
B次元官网网址淭hat awareness is extremely important and that they can show Isaac, which is respect in Nuu-chah-nulth and that theyB次元官网网址檙e aware that itB次元官网网址檚 not just a National Park Reserve but the traditional territories of the Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣�,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 amazingB次元官网网址o see the finished product out here has absolutely been incredible.B次元官网网址�
Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣� Government President Charles McCarthy opened the celebration by welcoming the audience to the NationB次元官网网址檚 territory and said the cixwatin would watch over all within it.
B次元官网网址淚 raise my hands up to Clifford. ItB次元官网网址檚 been a long time coming and I know thereB次元官网网址檚 been difficulties throughout getting things to this point. I want to acknowledge Clifford for his effort. HeB次元官网网址檚 always been one to stand up and do things for the community,B次元官网网址� McCarthy said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 always been there to lift us up with his art and this is reflective of what is in all our hearts as Yuu艂u蕯i艂蕯at岣�.B次元官网网址�
Cunneyworth served as the MC for the unveiling and thanked those who came to celebrate the new carving.
B次元官网网址淭here was a lot of back and forth and quite a few barriers, but we got through it and this is the evidence of doing it in a good way,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淩eally, truly thank you all for coming out to witness this. IB次元官网网址檓 so happy to see it up here.B次元官网网址�
