Tsain-Ko Village Shopping Centre

On the corner of Highway 101 and Ti’ta Way stands a group of five totems, erected in 2007. Descriptions below are from right to left as you stand facing them:

Totem #1
Carved by Andrew Puglas Jr. (U’magalis) and Patrick Hunt (Kwinsistalagalis) in 2007.
Top Figure: Thunderbird – The thunderbird represents strength and is one of the most powerful figures to place on a totem pole amongst the Kwa’gulth people. It has strong history and is the healing power of the Northwest Coast First Nations people.
Bottom Figure: Tsuno’kwa (Wild Woman of the Woods) – Tsuno’kwa is the highest-ranking figure to place on a totem pole; it shows the wealth of the community and its families. Amongst the Kwa’gulth, it shows how noble the family is and where they stand in the ranking system of the Kwa’kwa’kawakw people. The Tsuno’kwa comes from both the Puglas and Hunt family and is the first mask shown in a potlatch.

Totem #2
Carved by Ɂantuni Tony Paul in 2007.
Top Figure: Raven releasing the sun – The raven is releasing the sun and giving us life and the Sunshine Coast its sunshine.
Bottom Figure: Human figure with Tsain-Ko – The human figure represents shíshálh ancestors. The double-headed sea serpent runs up the ancestral figure. This is “ch’inkw’u,” after which Tsain-Ko Village is named.

Totem #3
Carved by Richard Baker and Matthew Baker in 2007.
Top Figure: The Eagle – The eagle on the top of the totem pole with its wings out is the spiritual bird that watches over all our communities.
Second Figure: The Welcome Figure – The welcome figure, holding its arms out in greeting, is welcoming people of other Nations to the Sechelt community.
Third Figure: The Orca – The orca, “Hunter of the Sea,” represents family and togetherness.

Totem #4
Carved by Ɂantuni Tony Paul in 2007.
Top Figure: The Watchman – The top figure is the watchman, keeping an eye on all the shíshálh territories.
Figures Below: Animal Symbols – All of the animal figures below the watchman represent the Nation’s crest for each area of the swiya. These are: the wolf, the orca, the grizzly bear, the frog, and the eagle.

Totem #5
Carved by Ɂantuni Tony Paul, Matthew Baker, and Richard Baker in 2007.
Top Figure: Thunderbird – The thunderbird is the spiritual guardian of the shíshálh Nation.
Second Figure: Lady Figure with Drum – The lady figure represents shíshálh elders. The lady is holding a drum which symbolizes singing songs to the other totem poles. On the drum is a double-headed eagle which represents the shíshálh Nation’s crest.