As I was leaving Hatley Park I noticed this strikingly fresh and new totem pole near the entrance to the grounds. Totems are always interesting pieces of art and cultural expressions but I have seldom seen one looking so fresh and new. Like this they are even more stunning. The pole was erected in late 2015 and a nearby plaque reads as below.
S'AEL
(HARMONY)
Commemorates the 75th Anniversary of Royal Roads (A Naval and Military College from 1940 to 1995 and a British Columbia public university since 1995) and honours the indigenous people on whose ancestral land we learn and celebrate together.
Created by
Tom LaFortune assisted by Howard LaFortune Jr.
(Tsawout First Nation)
Commissioned and Donated by
Wayne Strandlund
(Metis)
Chancellor and Chair of the Board of Governors Royal Roads University
September 2015
It certainly is beautifully carved.
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming the "Military College from 1940 to 1955" is a typo, as Royal Roads Military College closed in 1995, did it not?
ReplyDelete@Paul in Powell River - Thanks for pointing out my typo - the date has now been corrected.
ReplyDeleteYou're right, that totem is gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful totem pole!! Wow!
ReplyDelete