A while back I had mentioned that I would write about the giant spindle whorls that are dotted around the city of Victoria, marking the different culturally significant places for the Lekwungen (now known as the Esquimalt and Songhees) people.
The spindle whorl and small disc were traditionally used for spinning wool and is an icon of the Coast Salish people.
Each of the 7 discs, designed by Butch Dick, has a different image on them.
This week I will be looking at the Songhees Point location.
The first location of the Spindle whorl is just over the blue bridge (the blue bridge has been replaced with a newer grey coloured bridge, but the bridge joining Victoria to Esquimalt is still known as “the Blue Bridge”).
This whorl sits just on the point to the side of the Delta Hotel.
This point is called PAH-lu-tsuss meaning “Cradle-board”. According to the sign and the information brochure, this sacred headland was where traditionally cradles were places once the child learnt to walk. It was later the site of a settlement and then an Indian reserve which traded with the Hudson Bay Company Fort that was located at Bastion Square.
The carved theme on the whorl is “Four Seasons of the Salmon Family” – The 4 salmon are the Sockeye, Coho, Chum, and Spring.
Under the whorl is a map of the different locations and the name of the location this whorl is located.
KotsuKotsuLife 