June 23rd 2023
Ceremonial unveiling of a carved welcome pole in Miners Bay
On Friday June 23rd, as part of the Campbell Bay Music Festival, we witnessed the ceremonial unveiling of a permanent welcome pole in Miners Bay, carved by TEMOSEṈ Chazz Elliott and Matthew Parlby-Elliot, with assistance from Addie Elliott. This pole stands at the entrance of the grounds of the Mayne Island Agricultural Hall, a historic site that hosts a weekly Farmers Market in the summer, as well as the annual Fall Fair, and musical and cultural events.
The pole was celebrated with honouring dance and song by the HELI,SET drum group, led by SX̱EDŦELISIYE Renee Samson, and by words and song from J,SIṈTEN Dr John Elliott, who generously shares his deep knowledge about this place, its people, and its stories at the festival and throughout the year.
We also witnessed the first public installation of the interactive art piece “Untitled –ṮEṮÁĆES”, a collaborative work by Kim Shortreed and TEMOSEṈ Chazz Elliott created as part of Shortreed’s doctoral dissertation, and shown inside the Agricultural Hall with an opening artists’ talk.
Watch the welcome pole unveiling ceremony:
Over the festival weekend, we also enjoyed knowledge sharing workshops and demonstrations at the festival site in Campbell Bay by Myrna Elliot - Salish weaving, SELILIYE Belinda Claxton and Stella Underwood - cedar bark harvesting and weaving, and Lillian Underwood - bannock and soapberry ice cream making.
