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WV totem returned to Squamish
Forgotten pole donated by new property owners Benjamin Alldritt balldritt@nsnews.com
A totem pole discovered on a neglected West Vancouver lot has been donated back to the Squamish Nation by the family that recently purchased the land. The pole is believed to be at least 70 years old and the work of Chief Mathias Joe, a hereditary Squamish chief and prolific carver who died in 1967 at age 91. The 6.4-metre red cedar pole was carefully loaded onto a truck Monday and shipped to the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre in Whistler, where it will be partially restored and used both as an exhibition piece and a training aid for student carvers. “It’s extremely significant,” said Sarah Goodwin, the centre’s manager of program development. “This pole will NEWS photo Cindy Goodman be an addition to our carving program. We have cultural TIMBER Haven mill worker Eric Hemel (centre) and members of the Jensen family of West Vancouver work to secure and protect a 70-yearexperts come in and teach old totem for its journey via Black Tusk flatbed truck to its new home at the Squamish Lil’Wat Cultural Centre in Whistler. aboriginal youth ambassadors. The pole will be restored by Cody Mathias and Gary Mathias Ray Baker, which is just incredible.” Mathias and Baker are the original carver’s great-grandson and great-great-grandson respectively. “He’s going to do some restoration work on it but it has a beautiful weathered appearance. “Outside the schools, people are just going to see more Given the age of the piece and the amount that it has weathered, cops than usual,” said Cpl. Fred Harding, a spokesman for the there will be a fairly minimalist approach,” Goodwin said. “Then West Vancouver police. “I can’t obviously discuss our tactics the pole will be installed in November as part of the Cultural — there are things going on — but no one’s going to find them Journey exhibition that will open in the spring. Our vision is intrusive.” to display this piece alongside a replica piece carved by family James Weldon The measures were in response to a note scrawled on a wall members by the end of next year.” at the school about 10 days ago, which apparently warned that Goodwin said a bear and a thunderbird are identifiable on jweldon@nsnews.com something would take place on Oct. 19. Other media have the pole, but the lower figures are not recognizable yet. The two TENSIONS were high at West Vancouver reported the anonymous writer claimed 12 people would die, Squamish restorers may be able to remedy that. but police would not confirm that. Goodwin added that the family that discovered the pole on secondary Tuesday morning as police and security “I can tell you it was a non-specific threat,” said Harding. “I their British Properties lot was under no obligation to return it, guards flocked to the school in response to a can categorically say there were no names, no venues, no places and they will be invited to the blessing ceremony next year. threatening message. attached to it.” The land changed hands about 18 month ago, said a The Province newspaper reported Tuesday that the note had West Vancouver officers were patrolling the area and had spokesman for the Jensen family, at which time the pole, while beefed up surveillance around the community’s other public and included a hit list of specific individuals. Harding said that wasn’t still standing, was almost totally obscured by trees and bushes. private high schools. Guards with a private security firm were See Gift page 5 visible on campus. See Police page 3
Heavy police presence at WVSS Warning threat prompts security measures at all WV high schools
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