Editor:
In the June 30 edition of the paper under the headline: “Deep-rooted artworks go from grove to gallery,” there’s reference to an exhibition on view at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre that draws its inspiration from an area referred to as “The Tuwanek Springs Forest.” As context, this name was given input and approved by hiwus Craigan (shíshálh Nation knowledge-keeper) when asked by our organization for a suitable name for this forest that we came across. The forest is close to shoreline near the former shíshálh village site of Tuwanek and contains a year-round spring which may have been used for millennia by this community as a sacred site.
Also, to clarify, the article states: “The area is scheduled to be clear cut by Sunshine Coast Community Forest for BC Timber Sales.” It’s true that this forest is a planned Sunshine Coast Community Forest (SCCF) Block AN14 currently scheduled to be logged in 2025, but not for BC Timber Sales – which is a different logging agency. SCCF is a logging company owned by the District of Sechelt.
This forest contains many “old forest” attributes including old-growth Douglas-fir, mature cedar, nurse logs, a well-established understory of medicinal plants and a game trail leading right to the spring. We would also like to see this forest protected and support these artistic expressions inspired by the in-situ conditions found in these magical places.
Ross Muirhead, Elphinstone Logging Focus (ELF)
