Canoe was carved from a 600-year-old cedar tree for the Commonwealth Games
Canwest News Service
His dream was to carve a cedar canoe to join the tribal journey to Victoria’s Commonwealth Games, but Bill Helin never expected his treasured Raven’s Song would again be honoured at the 2010 Olympic Games.
Ten men were needed Tuesday to help unload the 540-kg canoe from a gillnetter and carry it to Canada Place for a welcoming ceremony at the Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel.
The canoe, carved out of 600-year-old cedar, is the centrepiece of an aboriginal village called Kla-how-ya, meaning “Welcome,” which will transform the hotel’s atrium lobby Feb. 12-28.
The 16-day showcase of aboriginal art, performances and culture is free to residents and visitors during the 2010 Games.
“This is definitely the journey of a lifetime,” said Helin, a Tsimshian artist. “I never envisioned this canoe ever portaging, let alone going up the escalators.”
Helin conducted the traditional blessing of the canoe, drumming the spirit of the raven song into the territory of the Squamish Nation, outside Canada Place. Other first nations members, dressed in traditional garb and carrying paddles, drummed and sang along with him.
“Thank you for letting us be on your territory,” Helin said. “We’re honoured to be here to share out art, our spirit, our creativity through our culture.”
Squamish Nation Chief Bill Williams and representatives of several B.C. first nations, joined by a group of Pan Pacific chefs, carried the 12-m canoe from the Canada Place street entrance to the atrium’s lobby.
To read more in Kelowna.com
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