When the International Boundary Line was being surveyed in 1857-1861, the major portion of the large First Nations Band then living in this area moved to the reservation in Colville, Washington. One of the First Nations entwined two sapling lodgepole pines, saying: 'Though divided we are united still, we are one.' This tree symbolizes the spirit of friendship existing between Canada and the United States.
This is the story of the Entwined Trees and the Olympic Torch Relay as told by Vidar Eilertsen. "
I started working for VANOC in June 2007, and we did a research route hard drive from Golden to Kelowna in October 2007. We had fantastic fall weather with spectacular colors in the forest, and white snow on top of the mountains. Canada and BC showed the best of its beauty to us. It was our Route Manager, Rozanne Pitbeam (from Melbourne, Australia) who found on the internet background material for all the communities. The story about the Entwined Pine trees in Midway was very interesting and we planned the route in your community around a stop and photo opportunity there. The text on the plaque and the spirit of the message is just great: 'Though divided we are united still - we are one'.
This tree symbolizes the spirit of friendship existing between Canada and the United States. I remember we got "goose bumps" when reading it. The message of the Olympic Flame and the spirit of the Torch Relay are about Friendship, so we thought this would be a good place for the stop when the Olympic Flame visited Midway. Aboriginal participation and culture was also a key factor in our route plan, and although we did not have an aboriginal ceremony around the stop, it still highlighted the culture and message."
Opened in Entwined Trees Park in 2015, the
Gateway Learning Circle was created by renowned native artist David Seven Deers of Greenwood, BC. The
Gateway Learning Circle consists of twenty stone seating blocks, each with an animal motif carved into its top. Each block appears to consist of pure white quartz, a type of stone somewhat common in the area, but seldom of such fine quality.
One enters the
Gateway Learning Circle under a Stonehenge-like structure at least eight feet in height then passes a polished andesite sculpture of a raven, entitled
Heelah – Mother Raven. Mother Raven, herself about 2½ to 3 feet in height, stands upon an irregular, multi sided stone plinth about 2 feet in height. Mother Raven and the plinth upon which she stands are a single piece, carved from a 4½ to 5 foot tall piece of andesite. The gateway is comprised of three rectangular pieces of andesite, each weighing more than three tons. The stone seating is arrayed in a circle, with the entrance structure at its head and
Heelah – Mother Raven just inside.
The
Gateway Learning Circle is fashioned after the traditional native
Talking Circle, a very old way of bringing native people of all ages together in a quiet, respectful manner for the purposes of teaching, listening, learning and sharing. A very effective way to remove barriers and to allow people to express themselves with complete freedom, it is becoming more and more popular in mainstream society.
Entwined Trees Park & Gateway Learning Circle
Entwined Trees
Back in 1857, surveyors began to create the International Boundary Line (Canada/US border). By 1861 a large portion of First Nations people moved to a reservation in Colville, WA. Before they left, one of the First Nations people entwined two sapling pines, saying “Though divided we are united still, we are one.” This tree symbolizes the connection and friendship that still exists today between Canada and the United States.
In 2010, the Olympic Torch made a stop in Midway at Entwined Trees Park.
Gateway (Stekthal) Learning Circle
In June of 2015 the Gateway Learning Circle was officially opened in Entwined Trees Park. The Gateway is a creation of artist David Seven Deers and took several years to create. The space represents a gateway to the world, to learning, to community and to understanding each other. It is a learning destination for area students.
Enter through the massive stone gateway. Beyond the entry is Heelah – Mother Raven, who presides at the head of the circle. Twenty stone blocks create the circle, with a chiselled animal motif on each one.
From Boundary BC