Snuxyaltwa (Snow) Potlatch |
Chief Snuxyaltwa (centre)
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Holding To Our Traditions – Placing Our Totem Pole at Talyu Nuxalk'mc (Bella Coola People) had over 300 villages within our Territory. Our Families still carry many traditional names from these villages. Totem pole were used as Territory markers, land markers or grave makers. As well, each long house had a totem pole to let the Nuxalk'mc know where they came from. Some Hereditary Chiefs carry Smuyustas, which are the Story of Origin from the beginning of time. The Families of Snuxyaltwa (Snow), Andy, Schooner and Hans come from Talyu. The Snuxyaltwa Totem Pole at Talyu (South Bentinck) will tell our Smuyusta or Story of Origin. The Loon will be on top and the Whale will be towards the bottom with the Grizzly, Thunderbird, Yulm and Sun. The main carvers are Nuxalk Harry Schooner, Joe Mack and Richard Pollard. This will be the first totem pole to be raised in our Territory at Talyu. My family is very excited and many Nuxalk'mc chiefs are now talking about totem poles going back to their Homelands. Raising a totem pole makes us happy, because this is the way of our people and the way the Creator has given us to remind ourselves of who we are and where we come from and our purpose here on Mother Earth. Many visitors - from New Zealand, Germany and within Canada, from Alert Bay, Bella Bella, Anihem Lake, and Oweekno - will come to Talyu to witness the historic event. Our Family would like to thank those who have helped with our messages in the past. Good strong spirits keep us on the right road. Let's make the circle bigger and stronger. |
Alert link: Land Infringement at Taleomey Narrows
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Left: This totem pole was the entrance to the Nuxalk Raven House of Chief Hemasin in the village of Talyu. It was carved of ancient red cedar by Skyuswalus of Talyu. The figures depict creatures involved in family histories. Most powerful is Raven with a long beak. A secondary figure is Beaver. His face, with big incisor teeth, appears above Raven. Beaver's body and tail are carved in the centre of the pole, below Raven's beak. Eagles appear on either side of Beaver. The photo was taken by the English ethnologist Charles Newcombe in 1913, the same year that he "collected" the Raven Pole for the museum in Victoria. |
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Canoe Journey to Talyu (South Bentinck) from Bella Coola
and Accomodation Everyone is welcome. We are honored to have you witness these historic days in Nuxalk Territory. Please note that travel to Talyu (South Bentinck) and accomodation will be a factor. Talyu is about 23 miles from Bella Coola, and is only accessible by water. Our family will be looking for more canoes and boats to help with transportation. We need to know who is coming. Some visitors may want to bring gear for overnight camping at the Talyu Hotsprings (above). We may be asking for cash donations to help with expenses of gas, or for camping gear, tents, axes, lights, tarps, etc. We plan to restore a gillnet boat and build a large shelter for our dancing and feasting. Our pole raising ceromonies will be at about 11 am on August 19th and hopefully finish by 3 pm. Talyu Totem Pole and Memorial Fund Everyone should manage to get back to Bella Coola by the next day, on August 20th, for the memorial feast and the unveiling of tombstones for six family members who have passed on to the spirit world: Brandi Ann Siwallace Leona & Raymond Wadhams, Sam Hunt, Noel Cuyler & Marlene Cuyler (Snow). In our tradition, people believe that if we hold onto our loved ones who have passed away, then we stop them from carrying on their journey back to their rightful place. Traditional Nuxalk Wedding at Bella Coola, August 21, 2009 On August 21th we will celebrate the traditional Nuxalk wedding of Marcia Krawll & Rongo Wetere |
Long houses with totem poles facing the sea in the Nuxalk village of Talyu, 1913
Taleomy Narrows, South Bentinck, Nuxalk Territory
