Welcome to the Vancouver, Coast & Mountains region—a diverse landscape of saltwater, ancient cedar forests, and soaring alpine peaks that have been nurtured by Indigenous hands since time immemorial.

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A self-guided journey through cultural connection

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Land Acknowledgment

The swiya of the Shíshálh people lies between Queens Reach in lekw’emin (Jervis Inlet) and Howe Sound on the south coast of British Columbia. Historically, there were four main settlements at kalpilin (Pender Harbour), ts’unay (Deserted Bay), xenichen (head of lekw’emin) and tewankw near alhtulich (Porpoise Bay).Through their living traditions, language (she shashishalhem), fishing, harvesting, storytelling and governance, they’ve revitalized culture while protecting sacred places. You’re invited to explore their trails, visit the tems swiya Museum in Sechelt, and immerse yourself in their stories.

Shíshálh Nation

Shíshálh Nation (Sunshine Coast, BC) — whose swiya spans over 500,000 hectares from Jervis Inlet to Roberts Creek — are Coast Salish people with deep ties to land, sea and heritage.

Sechelt & Sunshine Coast

Art Galleries and Studios

Heritage Sites

museums & cultural centres

Public Art

Authentic Indigenous

Distilleries & Breweries

Restaurants & Eateries

Wineries

Coast Salish

Kwakwaka'wakw

Musgamakw Dzawada’enuxw Nation

Musqueam

Sto'lo

Tsleil-Waututh

Bike Rentals & Tours

Fishing

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Hunting

Paddling

Retail

cabins & rvs

campgrounds

hotels & motels

lodges & resorts

Hot Springs

Spas

Bear viewing

Whale Watching

There is one totem in front of the tems swiya Museum and Raven’s Cry Theatre building that was carved by Jamie Jeffries sometime in the 1990’s. It depicts an eagle, orca, and wolf.

Totem at Raven’s Cry Theatre

Reven's Cry Theatre Totem Pole

There are several totems adjacent to the shíshálh Nation’s Hall of Swiyk’als Drive. The two larger totems, carved by Jimmy Joseph, Frank Dixon, and Jamie Jeffries in 1986 and 1988, commemorate the achievement of self-government by the shíshálh Nation. On the lawn in front of the Hall, a circle of totems carved by Jamie Jeffries surrounds a plaque describing the shíshálh Nation. Originally, there was a group of seven figures, but now only four remain.Three of these figures were faceless, representing the Nation’s position under the Indian Act. Three others had faces, representing the Nation’s position and identity as a self-governing people.The seventh totem in this group has a plaque in honour of the restoration of self-government through federal legislation for the shíshálh people. It honours David Crombie and Chief Stan Dixon, a working team in developing Bill C-93, the self-government enabling legislation.

The Nation’s Hall

The Nation's Hall Totem Pole's

Behind the Raven’s Cry Theatre, in front of the Nation’s Social Development Building, stands a totem carved by Jamie Jefferies and erected in 2012. This pole was raised in honour of military veterns from the shíshálh Nation.

Totem at the Social Development Building

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.

Tsain-Ko Village Shopping Centre

Five commemorative totems erected in 2007 stand on the corner of Highway 101 and Ti’ta Way in Sechelt, honoring shíshálh heritage, family crests, and the cultural stories of the Northwest Coast First Nations.

Totem Poles at Highway 101 and Ti’ta Way

On Cowrie Street and Shorncliffe Avenue, a totem stands in front of the former Sechelt Elementary School, carved by Bradley Hunt, a Heiltsuk First Nations artist from Bella Bella.Before deciding to pursue his art full-time, Mr. Hunt was a much-respected teacher at the school. Students carved the totem with him, along with others from the community. The pole was erected in 1985.The two main figures on the pole are the eagle and a human. The eagle was the crest of Sechelt Elementary School at the time. The human figure below the eagle represents the teacher. Within the body of the human is a smaller human representing the child, or the children of the school. On the body of the child is a copper inlay which represents wealth—in this case, the wealth of knowledge.Mr. Hunt also designed the logo for the Sunshine Coast School District.Ask ChatGPT

Totem at Sechelt Elementary School

A Tribute to Knowledge, Community, and Cultural Heritage

Exterior: Standing outside the entrance to the Sechelt Hospital Emergency Room are three poles carved by Ɂantuni Tony Paul and Deon Louie.The totem pole on the left, carved by Deon Louie, features an eagle (representing strength, leadership, and prestige), wolf (intelligence, leadership, and strong sense of family), raven (creation, knowledge, and humour), and beaver (creativity and determination).The totem pole on the right was carved by Ɂantuni Tony Paul and is titled The Healing Pole. The figure at the top is a watchman, providing protection for the hospital and the surrounding area. There is also an eagle, a hummingbird, and a human. There is a sun on the chest of the eagle, radiating healing and peace. The hummingbird is the healer, fulfilling the creator’s promise that those who suffer injury or loss will be restored. The human figure represents the staff and volunteers in the hospital who take care of those in their time of need. The blanket that is wrapped around the figure signifies that they are being honoured for the work they are doing.The pole in the centre was also carved by Ɂantuni Tony Paul and is called The Welcome Pole. It features a figure with open arms (a traditional greeting) facing people as they come into the hospital.Interior: Just inside the main entrance of the hospital is a wooden mural created by local artist Shain Jackson, with the help of students, using only recycled materials. The large sun represents regeneration, growth, and new beginnings. The canoe piece, Pulling Together, symbolizes the ideals of cooperation and building unity. The four canoeists shown represent unity in diversity.

Sechelt Hospital

Three exterior totem poles and an interior mural at Sechelt Hospital honor Coast Salish cultural traditions, celebrating protection, healing, community, and unity.

Totem Poles and Art at Sechelt Hospital

Two totems overlook the playing fields at Ted Dixon Park on Kwatamus Avenue. The taller pole was carved by Bradley Hunt, and the shorter pole of the spirit wolf was carved by Jamie Jeffries. These poles were erected in memory of Ted Dixon, a respected shíshálh Nation councillor.

Ted Dixon Park Totems

Two commemorative totem poles honor shíshálh Nation councillor Ted Dixon, featuring carvings by Bradley Hunt and Jamie Jeffries overlooking the park’s playing fields.

Ted Dixon Park Totem Poles

At the corner of East Porpoise Bay Road and Schetxwen Road, a totem pole carved by Ɂantuni Tony Paul marks the entrance to the shíshálh Nation Industrial Park. This pole is titled The Spirit of Tita and is in memory of Clarence Joe Sr. This pole is a protection pole, providing protection to people who enter the Industrial Park. From top to bottom, it depicts the eagle, orca (in the wing of the eagle), wolf, grizzly bear, and frog, symbolizing the clans of the shíshálh Nation.

Totem at shíshálh Nation Industrial Park Entrance

A protection totem by Ɂantuni Tony Paul, titled The Spirit of Tita, stands at the Industrial Park entrance to honor Clarence Joe Sr. and represent the shíshálh Nation’s clans.

Totem Pole at the shíshálh Nation Industrial Park Entrance

Salish Soils, on Schetxwen Road, has a small demonstration garden beside their office. It contains one of the totems carved by Jamie Jeffries that used to be in the circle of totems in front of the Nation Hall.

Totem at Salish Soils

A relocated Jamie Jeffries totem from the Nation Hall circle now stands in the demonstration garden at Salish Soils.

Totem Pole at Salish Soils Demonstration Garden

A protection pole stands in front of the Sunshine Coast Regional District offices at 1975 Field Road. Carved by Ɂantuni Tony Paul, this totem was erected in 2009. The base of the pole is a grizzly bear, signifying protection from the land. Above the bear is an eagle, its wings sheltering a frog. The frog represents unity, and here signifies the unity of the people working together to protect the watershed. The eagle represents protection from the air, and here indicates both protection of the watershed and protection of the friendship between people on the Sunshine Coast.

Totem at Sunshine Coast Regional District Office

A protection totem by Ɂantuni Tony Paul stands before the Sunshine Coast Regional District offices, symbolizing unity and the protection of the land, water, and community.

Protection Totem at Sunshine Coast Regional District Office

Other shíshálh Nation public art at Tsain-Ko CentreHydro Boxes: Take a moment to see the inspiring and stunning local artwork installed on two hydro boxes in 2020, designed by two shíshálh Nation artists—Manuela Salinas (the orca) and Charles Craigan (the frog).Metal Wall Panels: Throughout the shopping centre are a series of metal artwork panels, designed by Manuela Salinas, that tell the story of ch’inkw’u (the two-headed sea serpent). The sea serpent symbolizes a legendary animal with infinite strength to preserve and restore balance amongst all living things. Look for the interpretation panel on the exterior of the centre building to learn more.Wall Carving: The double-headed eagle and serpent—by the late Ɂantuni Tony Paul.On the northern end of the Tsain-Ko complex, additional art panels depicting eagles and orcas are on display, created by artist Margaret August.

Other shíshálh Nation public art, Tsain-Ko Centre

Public art installations at Tsain-Ko Centre include hydro box murals, metal panels illustrating the two-headed sea serpent, a wall carving by Ɂantuni Tony Paul, and additional panels by Margaret August.

Public Art Installations at Tsain-Ko Centre

Immerse yourself in the vibrant world of shíshálh Nation, offering innovative programs and services to empower its community. Delve into the rich history, culture, and social development efforts of the Nation while enjoying a unique blend of tradition and modernity.

5500 Sunshine Coast Hwy

Explore shíshálh Nation's self-government model, social programs, cultural initiatives, and more in Sechelt, BC.

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