A broken-hearted man's carving, which honours a son's heroism and a mother's love, has at last come home to the shíshálh (Sechelt) Nation. For 84 years this precious treasure rested across the Salish Sea with the Vancouver Museum. Three separate ceremonies marked its return this past weekend.
The repatriated granite carving the shíshálh refer to as the Sechelt Image is regarded as one of the largest and finest stone sculptures in B.C. according to Jessica Casey, curator of the tems swiya Museum in Sechelt.
Weighing in at just over 30 kilograms and standing a half-metre tall, the Image depicts a mother holding her infant son. The touching story behind the carving relates how the boy saved his village from massacre when he happened upon a band of renegades waiting for darkness to attack the village. The boy was killed but the villagers spared. After hearing of her only child's murder, the mother threw herself off a cliff. Only the father, a carver, was left. His homage to his family captured a time of love, not the later sorrow.
The carving, thought to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, was found in 1921 by the Columbus Boys' Club in the present-day Selma Park area. The sculpture was sold to the Vancouver Museum for safe keeping in 1926. It was a practice at the time for museums around the world to buy First Nations' artifacts. Few have been returned to their rightful owners. This is the first repatriation by the Vancouver Museum, and after 40 years of persistence by the shíshálh Band and Council, the repatriation on Oct. 15 and 16 was an emotional time for all, said Robert Joe, Band councillor.
The first of the ceremonies took place in Vancouver. The Vancouver Museum, owned by the city of Vancouver, signed the transfer papers allowing the Image to return home. During the hour and a half ceremony, Robert Nahanee of the Squamish Nation and his son Phil had a candle blessing for the sculpture to mark the carving leaving Squamish territory for Sechelt.
"We're very thankful," Joe said of the museum's decision to return the priceless art to its home.
A capacity crowd attended the joyful ceremony on Oct. 16 in the Sechelt Longhouse. It was a time for Band elders, Chief Garry Feschuk, Band Council, neighbouring First Nations and the shíshálh people to welcome the treasure back into their midst. No cameras or recordings were allowed to record this special day; instead, in the traditional way, certain people were called upon to witness the event, Joe said. The designated people, Grand Chief Ed John from the Tl'azt"en Nation by Prince George area, Andy Puglas Junior from Campbell River, Hereditary Chief Janice George of the Squamish Nation, her husband Buddy Joseph, Chief Willie Charlie of Chehalis Nation and Hereditary Chief Ray Harris from Chemanius, were then asked to speak to the over 200 men, women and children present.
One of the highlights of the ceremony was the attendance of the Sxweyxwey Dancers and Singers from Nanaimo. The dancers in their elaborate attire are rarely seen and never recorded. The dances are passed on through generations to the same families.
"I've been to a few ceremonies and it's very moving for some of our young people to see [the dancers]. It blows them away because it's very secretive," Joe explained.
Another blessing ceremony and the brushing of the Image with cedar boughs provided a spiritual welcome to the carving. This very special ceremony evoked strong emotions in all the assembled, Casey and Joe commented.
It was also a moving occasion for NDP politicians Carole James, party leader, and MLA Nicholas Simons, who were in attendance.
At a fundraising event later that evening, James spoke of the grace and gratitude the shíshálh people showed to the Vancouver Museum for keeping the historic treasure safe. She said the compassion shown should be an example to all of B.C.
The last ceremony attended by a small, select group of people on Saturday was held at the tems swiya Museum to welcome the treasure back to its final home.
Soon the treasure will be ready for viewing by all the community.
Joe credited Casey for her hard work in the repatriation of the Image. He expressed gratitude to the city of Vancouver and "every person who has helped us bring this treasure back."
"It helps us identify who we are as a Sechelt Nation. It brings back a lot of pride, honour and dignity," Joe said.
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