"The Spirit of Lekwammen" totem pole, Victoria, Canada - Outside Wooden Display Carvings on Waymarking.com

The totem pole was 180-ft 3-in tall was raised on August 4, 1994 at Victoria, British Columbia, Canada prior to the Commonwealth Games taking place there. On August 26, 1997 the pole was partially dismantled for safety reasons and now stands 40 feet tall.

Through the initiative of the Songhees Nation, a totem pole was made to recognize the three major Native languages of Vancouver Island. the totem pole was raised during the opening of the 1994 Commonwealth games. the totem pole was dismantled in 1997 and reconfigured into four positions. Two positions of the totem pole will remain at Pallastsis Point and two portions at the Songhees Reserve. The Songhees Nation named the project "The Spirit of Nations" to acknowledge the unification of all visiting Nations. the totem pole symbolizes friendship between the Songhees and visiting Nations to the Lekwungen Territory. Pallastsis Point remains a scared meeting place for Nations to unite. May it always bring long life to Songhees Children.

"The totem took approximately 3 ½ months to complete; and was made from one red cedar tree that was over 500 years old.

There were 11 people who worked on the project, (as artists) and many more who helped in other capacities.

In 2001 it was trimmed down to 40 feet because some of the local authorities figured it was an air traffic hazard. As well, many waterfront residents didn’t appreciate the two sets of oversized cables that held it up.

With my big beaked Raven now sitting proudly on top of the totem, looking over the beautiful Victoria inner harbor, and the remaining 140 feet of the totem now displayed on the Songhees Indian reserve, the memory of that proud cultural experience lives on. Divided in two areas of the Salish territory, but unified in the hearts and memories of all who experienced the true meaning of the `Spirit of Lekwammen`."

More information can be found at:
(visit link)

Type of wood carving: Totem pole Other type: na Artist's Name: A group of First Nations' Artists Approximate size/height: 180 Feet 40 feet displayed here Type of wood: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   08/17/2017 Lavskrike visited it 11/16/2016 Castor007 visited it 08/11/2016 Kladings visited it 03/03/2015 billy robson visited it 06/14/2014 OpusTerra visited it 10/20/2013 The A-Team visited it 05/14/2009 PersonsMD visited it

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