Coast Mountain College Totem Raising adds to commitment on reconciliation and decolonization

A historic totem raising on the main Terrace campus of Coast Mountain College brought community members, elders, students and employees of the college together to witness  the completion of one element of ongoing reconciliation for the educational institution  in the Northwest.

The totem has been placed outside of the new student housing complex on the Terrace campus, towards its design and creation, Coast Mountain College outlined some background to the work.

The design of the pts’ann (totem pole) is dedicated to the territory holders, and features the wolf and the bear. A matriarch figure is placed between the wolf’s ears and at the base of the pole is a male figure holding a copper shield. 

Stan Bevan (Tsimshian/Tahltan/Tlingit), master carver, designed the pole and worked with his team of alumni of the Freda Diesing School of Northwest Coast Art: Brian McKee (Tsimshian), James Lewis (Tsimshian/Tahltan), and Kobe Antoine (Nedut’en), to create it.

The Terrace campus of Coast Mountain College was the
host for a totem pole raising outside the new student housing building,
Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat (where learners are content or comfortable)
(Photo from CMTN website)

As Coast Mountain College explains the path towards creation of the Totem began in 2018 when Coast Mountain College’s First Nations Council requested new student housing that reflected and supported the rich culture, language, ceremony and land-based practices of the region the college serves. 

Thanks to Indigenous leadership at the college, in the community and on the project team, this vision became reality when the building opened in October 2021. 

Coast Mountain College President and CEO Dr. Laurie Waye observed on the history making moment from Wednesday as part of her speech to those assembled.

"We added another layer to our commitment to reconciliation and decolonization, and we acknowledge the work we still need to do. We did this, imagine what's next,"

The pole raising was followed by dancing and drumming and, later, a traditional feast including smoked salmon, fry bread, and seasonal fruit. The feast was prepared by CMTN Culinary students as part of their experiential learning.

Coast Mountain College has included a video of the event as part of their social media feed to commemorate the event.

More notes on Post Secondary Education in the northwest can be explored from our archive page.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.