Photo/Scott Jeary/FNEF
A massive red cedar tree log set to be transformed in honour of the UN International Year of Indigenous Languages was on the move Wednesday on Vancouver Island.
The 800-year-old tree chosen for the 70-foot pole was delivered to the Port Alberni Maritime Heritage Society’s Discovery Centre in the late afternoon.
That’s where renowned Nuu- Chah-Nulth carver Tim Paul will get to work transforming it into the First Nations Education Foundation Language Revitalization Pole.
Earlier this year, Paul spoke of the significance of the the tree.
“It’s holding something of importance; the language, the key to who we are and how we are able to be the ones that survived to bring things forward,” he said.
“To share and be in amongst our neighbours. To give us goodwill, to give us something like this.”
Its believed the red cedar fell naturally near Port Alberni during a windstorm sometime in the past 50 to 70 years.
Its estimated the carving will take roughly 7 months, and a pole raising ceremony is planned for the University of Victoria campus in November.
Photo/Scott Jeary/FNEF
Ben O'Hara
