Spanish Expedition to Vancouver Island - 200 Years - Nanaimo, BC
N 49° 10.244 W 123° 56.195
10U E 431730 N 5446857
This memorial commemorating the bicentennial of the Spanish expedition to Vancouver Island in 1791 is located in Maffeo Sutton Park in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
Waymark Code: WMQ5NP
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 12/25/2015
Views: 10
The memorial consists of a statue titled Swy-a-Lana. A plaque on the base of the statue reads:
In Honour of the Visit of the
"Juan Sebastian de Elcano"
Commemorating the Bicentennial
of the Spanish Expedition to
Vancouver Island in 1791.
April 6th, 1991.
Another plaque on opposite side of the statue's base tells about the sculpture and reads:
Swy-a-Lana -
The eldest son of the first man in
(Snanimoch) Nanaimo.
The Bear (Spa-Ach) -
Represents food and clothing to
Swy-a-Lana.
The Eagle (Yuqh-Will-La) -
Represents Swy-a-Lana's good luck,
protector and guardian.
Carving by: A.G.J. Johnny
1985
The following information about the memorial is from the City of Nanaimo website:
"The three-sided carving is located near the bridge at Maffeo Sutton Park. Each of the three sides has a different carved figure. Swy-A-Lana - the eldest son of the first man in (Snanimoch) Nanaimo. The Bear (Spa-ach) - represents food and clothing to Swy-A-Lana. The Eagle (Yuqh-will-la) represents Swy-A-Lana's good luck protector and guardian. This carving was erected in Maffeo Sutton Park in honour of the visit from "Juan Sebastian De Elcano" commemorating the bicentennial of the Spanish expedition to Vancouver Island in 1791. The carving was completed in 1985 and was erected in Maffeo Sutton Park in 1991."