Partners in VIU’s Totem Pole Project gather for the blessing of a cedar log donated by TimberWest Forest Corp; l-r, back, Lurene Haines, Communications Manager, TimberWest; Marie Armstrong, University Secretary; David Forrester, Manager, Advancement and Alumni Relations; George Hunt Jr., Carver, Kwakwaka’wakw; Geraldine Manson, VIU Elder-in-Residence; Domenico Iannidinardo, Vice-President of Sustainability and Chief Forester, TimberWest; l-r, front, Qwaya Sam, Carver, Ahousaht First Nation; Janet King, Executive Assistant, President’s Office; and Sherry McCarthy, Chairperson, VIUSU.
August 13, 2014 - 12:30pm
Two cedar trees harvested in the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations territory on Vancouver Island’s west coast have been donated by TimberWest to Vancouver Island University’s (VIU) totem pole project.
The donated cedars were delivered by the Island-based forest company to VIU’s G.R. Paine Horticultural Training Centre on East Wellington Road, where they were blessed by members of the Nuu-chah-nulth people at a ceremony on Friday, August 8. The trees were harvested in the northern region of Nuu-chah-nulth territory, on Ehattesaht First Nation territory.
Two of the four carvers involved in the project, Qwaya Sam (Ahousaht First Nation) and George Hunt Jr. (Kwakwaka’wakw) were in attendance along with Nuu-chah-nulth singer and Elder-in-Training Steven Howard. They were there to bless the cedars prior to their use in the carving project, which is an initiative of the VIU Students’ Union (VIUSU). Representatives from VIUSU, VIU and TimberWest took part in the blessing.
“The Students’ Union is very thankful for the generous donation of these two logs from TimberWest — we wouldn’t be able to complete this totem pole project without their contribution,” said VIUSU Chairperson Sherry McCarthy. “Coming from the Ehattesaht First Nations territory, these logs are very special, as they help to represent the diversity of Indigenous Peoples that have lived in this region for many thousands of years.”
Domenico Iannidinardo, Vice-President of Sustainability and Chief Forester with TimberWest Forest Corp. offered his congratulations to everyone involved in advancing the totem pole project.
“TimberWest has been supporting VIU’s forestry program for nearly 30 years by providing use of our local forest lands as a world class learning facility,” he said. “Our company donated these totem logs for the Shq’apthut project knowing that VIU’s Aboriginal Gathering Place will be a hub for the necessary deeper involvement of Aboriginal students in the forest sector.”
Carver George Hunt Jr. thanked TimberWest, VIU and the Students’ Union for making the totem project possible.
“The two logs we are currently carving represent 1,200 years of knowledge,” he said. “You can add at least another 800 years of knowledge with these logs donated by TimberWest. That knowledge represents the medicine of the cedar tree. We feel this is a unifying project that is bringing together like-minded people, First Nations and non-First Nations. As carvers, this project means a lot to us."
As the first phase in the totem pole project, three totems will grace the entrance of Shq’aphut, the Aboriginal Gathering Place at VIU. Totems will be carved with donations of trees by TimberWest, Island Timberlands and Western Forest Products.
Over the summer and fall months, the public is invited to view totem carving outside Shq’aphut by George Hunt Jr. (Kwakwaka’wakw), Qwaya Sam (Ahousaht First Nation), Noel Brown (Snuneymuxw) and Thomas Jones (Snuneymuxw).
“We are excited to complete this project, as these poles will help to educate the VIU community, and help to make Indigenous learners feel welcome at this university," McCarthy said.
Tags: In the Community
