A large crowd flocked to the Cumberland Piece Park on National Indigenous Day, June 21, to witness the unveiling of two totem poles.

The celebration started at around 10 a.m. with a speech by Chief Wedlidi Speck, who was backed by numerous chiefs and wise ones.

鈥淭oday is a day of celebration and鈥� I鈥檓 really glad that you鈥檝e come to share this time with us and to share our celebration of some amazing work that we鈥檙e gonna unveil shortly,鈥� said Speck.

Pleased to see so many residents joining the event, the Chief was proud to declare that his culture was alive and well despite the history experienced by Canadian First Nations.

鈥淥ne of the values that our people had historically, and that we still hold today, is that we really honour each other and we support each other,鈥� added Speck. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the ways that we keep our culture strong and it鈥檚 one of the things that [the Canadian government] tried to take that away from us. Today, we share love with you and we share our culture with you. That means that we鈥檙e winning. It means that we鈥檙e standing up strong to a way of life.鈥�

Shortly after Speck鈥檚 address, the two totems were unveiled. D艂ugwayaX瘫alis (Karver Everson), one of the two carvers behind this project, delivered a heartfelt speech about his experience working on the totem poles.

鈥淓very step of the way was absolutely incredible: from designing to working with Junior,鈥� said Everson. 鈥淲e wanted something to reflect how important family is [鈥�] It really takes a village that helps to raise the next generation. In our culture, the young ones coming up are the most prized.鈥�

Welcoming those entering the village via Cumberland Road, the two totem poles depict a man and a woman with their child alongside them.

Junior Henderson, the other artist involved in the project, acknowledged that the presence of children profoundly influenced his experience.

鈥淭he most important thing that can come out of this project was all of the questions that kids asked so that they would know something about who we are and where we come from. They wanted to know something about our people,鈥� said Henderson. 鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to change anything in this world, we鈥檙e going to change it through these children and we鈥檙e going to show them how to make that difference.鈥�

Kumugwe Dancers blessed the totem poles with eagle down feathers and traditional dances.

The two totem poles were commissioned by Dawn to Dawn Action on Homelessness Society for K鈥檞axdzi鈥檇zas - an affordable housing project in Cumberland that is set to support indigenous and non-indigenous families.

READ MORE: Pole raising celebration set for Cumberland affordable housing project

olivier.laurin@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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