Totem Pole on Songhees Point

The artwork of Pacific Northwest Native Peoples is world renowned. Probably its most famous artifact is the totem pole and that pictured above is one of my local favorites. It is located on Songhees Point and has, in part, been featured here before. Visit the Songhees Nation website to find out more about the history and culture of the people who lived here before European settlers arrived. There are also some good photos showing the various stages during the creation of a totem pole. Wikipedia also has a good article on totem poles.

Songhees Point 2

Songhees Point is named for the Songhees Nation. During the early days of Victoria's history, the native peoples lived on the opposite side of the harbour from Fort Victoria. Now this area is occupied by an ever-increasing number of condominiums. The totems on Songhees Point as well as being objects of beauty in themselves also serve to remind us of the original inhabitants of this area and their rich culture.

Gorge Park II

A fellow Victoria blogger, "Postie," just posted a photo of the first Gorge Bridge, consisting of a few logs spanning the gap between the rocks that I showed in yesterday's photo. The photo above is taken from beneath the modern bridge. Just to my left (off camera) is a rather uninteresting looking mound of gravel. It is a shell midden over 4,000 years old, the oldest archaeological site on Southern Vancouver Island. This area was important to the Native Peoples both spiritually and materially.

This locality, here at the narrows of the Gorge waterway is a sacred place in the traditions of the Lekwammen (Songhees) Native People. It was here, at the reversible tidal falls that the spirit being Hayls transformed to stone a little girl named Camosun and her grandfather Snukaymelt ("Diving"). This act ensured the protection of the rich food resources of the Gorge - herring, Coho Salmon, oysters and ducks.

On a spirit quest individuals went for long dives into the Gorge until Camosun granted them the powers they were seeking. It was believed that only a person who practised regular spiritual cleansing rituals would gain the powers necessary to acquire success in life.

It was the spirit Hayls who created the Gorge and turned some of Camosun's people into the Garry Oaks, Blue Camas and Easter Lilies that grow along its banks. The natural foam created by the reversing tidal falls was used to wash garments to protect their wearers from drowning.

(The above quote is posted behind a fence erected to protect the midden.)

Below is a photo of the modern Gorge Bridge. The shell midden referred to above is located in a sort of cage beneath the bridge on the right side in this photo.

Autumn Lawn

Victoria is usually very dry during the summer months and lawns tend to brown out. But with the return of the cool wet weather in fall, while the trees are losing their leaves, the lawns are experiencing a second spring. This lawn was actually greener than in the photo but I turned the saturation down because nobody would believe it otherwise. This photo was taken from a Victoria West condo area called the Songhees, across the Inner Harbour from Fisherman's Wharf and its colorful houseboats.

Yellow House

The modern City of Victoria was founded in 1843 although indigenous peoples (the Songhees Nation) were living here long before. In comparison with most of the world's cities, at 165 it is not very old. However, its residents treasure what little history they have by preserving many of the older houses under a "Heritage" designation which, while it gives the owner a tax break, also limits the kinds of alterations that can be made. This is one heritage house that I pass nearly every day and its sunshiney brightness always gives me a lift, even on a gray and gloomy day like today.