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Spindle whorl marking
llqemasan (Camosun) |
A few years ago the City of Victoria worked with the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations, to create and place seven larger-than-life spindles and whorls marking seven important Lekwungen locations around the city. This picture was taken at what was a Hudson's Bay Fort, Fort Camosun, later known as Fort Victoria. It marks the two worlds meeting.
“ I remember my grandma using a spindle whorl. She didn’t speak much English, and I didn’t speak much Coast Salish, but I understood that the spindle whorl is the foundation of any family – it can weave a tapestry of information.” Butch Dick, Songhees artist and designer of the spindle whorls
The second spindle is at the highest point in Beacon Hill Park, 'Meqen' (which means warmed by the sun) overlooking the Salish Sea, and on the far shore, the Olympic Peninsula. On the hillside, 'Coqwialls' a game similar to field hockey was played and lower down a village once stood until about 300 years ago. Camus, a wildflower and bulb that provided a sweet carbohydrate is found in abundance in this area. Just off shore, fish were caught using reef-net fishing techniques.
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| Beacon Hill Park, just below the spindle whorl |
The second spindle is at the highest point in Beacon Hill Park, 'Meqen' (which means warmed by the sun) overlooking the Salish Sea, and on the far shore, the Olympic Peninsula. On the hillside, 'Coqwialls' a game similar to field hockey was played and lower down a village once stood until about 300 years ago. Camus, a wildflower and bulb that provided a sweet carbohydrate is found in abundance in this area. Just off shore, fish were caught using reef-net fishing techniques.
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