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Take
A Totem Tour in Duncan
A symbol of First Nations culture throughout
the Pacific Northwest, the carved wooden
totem pole was a pictorial record of a family's
ancestry and an indication of status in
the community. The totem pole also served
as a grave marker or memorial, a figure
of welcome or a means to embarrass a rival.
In 1985, the town of Duncan
began a cooperative venture with First Nations
carvers to launch a renaissance of the ancient
totem art form. A total of 80 totem poles
were carved and erected around the town,
creating an outdoor museum which blends
a variety of Northwest Coast totem styles
and incorporates modern interpretations.
Visitors to Duncan can
take a self-guided totem tour, or take advantage
of free guided tours provided by the Cowichan
Valley Volunteer Society
A
Centre for Cowichan Culture
Long a prosperous stronghold of aboriginal
life on Vancouver Island, the Cowichan Nation
has remained a major influence on the culture
of the Cowichan Valley. Visitors to the
town of Duncan, on the lower stretch of
the river, can capture the spirit of the
Cowichan First Nations at the sprawling
Quw'utsun' Cultural Centre. In several buildings
transferred from the city of Vancouver's
Expo '86, and situated directly on the banks
of the river, the legends and art of the
Cowichan people and the Coast Salish Nation
are depicted through displays, multimedia
presentations, interpretive programs and
special events.
| The
World-Famous Cowichan Sweater
Hand-knit by Salish women of
the Cowichan Valley, the beautiful
and rugged Cowichan wool sweater
has gained an international
reputation. Made from sheep
raised on Vancouver Island,
and using only the natural whites,
greys, browns and black of the
virgin wool, the sweaters provide
warmth and repel moisture. So
durable are the sweaters that
they are often passed on from
parent to child. |
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At the Cultural Centre,
you can learn more about:
• the
significance of the totem pole
• traditional
food sources and fishing techniques
• the
construction and use of canoes
• longhouse
construction
• First
Nations artwork interpretation
• drum-making
• traditional
wood carving
The main hall of the Centre,
built with 1,000-year-old cedar beams, is
often the scene of performances by First
Nations singers and dancers, while traditional
salmon barbecues are a summer feature in
the feast house. Traditional Cowichan seafood
is the focus of Coast Salish feasts held
for large groups.
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