Wolves have returned to Harbour Quay in Port Alberni.

Hundreds of people gathered at Port AlberniB次元官网网址檚 waterfront on National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21) to watch Tseshaht First Nation members perform their wolf ritual at the site of their former winter village for the first time in 100 years, as the new B次元官网网址淲olf TowerB次元官网网址� was unveiled.

Prior to European contact, Tseshaht First Nation had a winter village and ceremonial site at the foot of Argyle Street known as Tlukwatkwuu7is (or Wolf Ritual Beach). Each winter, the Tlookwaana (or wolf ritual) was performed here.

But after the arrival of English schooner Meg Merrilies and Edward Stamp in 1860, the Tseshaht people were displaced from their village under threat of cannon fire so that a sawmill could be built in its place.

It was on June 21 that Tseshaht First Nation finally returned to Tlukwatkwuu7is to perform their wolf ritual and mark National Indigenous Peoples Day in Canada. A young man dressed as a wolf was led on stage in chains labelled with phrases like B次元官网网址渋nter-generational traumaB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渞esidential schoolB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址渃olonialism.B次元官网网址�

The chains were broken, and the wolf began to dance as Tseshaht singers drummed and sang.

B次元官网网址淕rowing up in Port Alberni, I was taught to be proud that the first export sawmill operated in our community,B次元官网网址� Port Alberni Mayor Sharie Minions acknowledged on Tuesday, June 21. B次元官网网址淏ut it wasnB次元官网网址檛 until recently that I learned that sawmill was constructed on a site wrongfully taken from the Tseshaht Nation.B次元官网网址�

The City of Port Alberni and Tseshaht First Nation partnered for the event on Tuesday and the unveiling of the Wolf Tower. The tower, which was once a clock tower, has now been decorated with artwork by Tseshaht artist Willard Gallic Jr. that depicts the wolf ritual.

B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 undo that history, but we can move forward differently,B次元官网网址� Minions said,

It was a full day of celebration at Harbour Quay, with vendors, food, music and dancing. Tseshaht welcomed leaders from multiple Nuu-chah-nulth nations, as well as MP Gord Johns, MLA Josie Osborne and City of Port Alberni councillors and past mayors. Fires were lit at 8 a.m. and burned into the evening for a traditional salmon barbecue.

Tseshaht First Nation Elected Chief Councillor Ken Watts noted that the potlatch ban was in place up until 1951, but there were Tseshaht people who celebrated in secret to keep their songs alive.

B次元官网网址淭here was a time in our history where we werenB次元官网网址檛 allowed to sing and we werenB次元官网网址檛 allowed to dance,B次元官网网址� said Watts. B次元官网网址淏ut there were people who stood up and they made sure that those songs didnB次元官网网址檛 die. If it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for them, we wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be able to sing the songs we sing today. ItB次元官网网址檚 important to acknowledge all the people who came before us and laid the foundation. Because if it wasnB次元官网网址檛 for them, this celebration would not be happening.B次元官网网址�

elena.rardon@albernivalleynews.com
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