Throughout the Broughtons there is evidence of aboriginal First Nations people.
Some of the best petroglyphs are found on Robber's Knob in Port Neville. Robber's Knob is built on a huge mound of clam shells (a midden) thought to be more than 8000 years old. It is easy to picture Aboriginals eating clams as they carved sea monsters and creatures into the rocks.
Unlike a petroglyph, a pictograph is painted on the rocks using natural pigments. Aboriginal artists selected white lichen free and south facing cliffs. Two exceptional examples are found in Allison Sound. One pictograph shows a three masted vessel with several long boats. Occupants of the long boats carry guns and wear broad brimmed hats. One of the longboats has a sail and the other has 12 oars. There is an orca whale off to the side. The second shows six small canoes facing a larger vessel.
Both Allison Sound pictographs are thought to commemorate the attack by the Nakwaktok Indians on the Thornton in 1868. In retaliation for the attack the Thornton shelled Village Cove in Mereworth Sound.
Modern first nation culture can be visited at Alert Bay. The Indian Cemetery has commemorative totems as head stones. There is dancing several times a week in the long house which seats 1000 people. Dancers range from three years of age to adults. Global BC was filming the dancing and interviewed Debra and Jan. The clip has aired and to date there have been no movie offers.
As soon as I become a more proficient editor, I will put a dance video of the Welcome Dance at Alert Bay.
2 comments:
When you become more proficient??? You already ARE! Great work. Always enjoy your very descriptive blogs!!
Just wanted to drop you a note to tell you how much we enjoy your blog. Thanks for sharing!
-C
Post a Comment