Grade 9 Totem Adventure

2 October 2012Joe K, Grade 9

Boarding the yellow submarine with our bus buddies we left after fourth academic block. Pulling out of school, the teachers gave out bagged lunches. After driving for about 10 minutes north on the TCH we reached our first destination, the banks of the Cowichan River by the cultural center were we saw a woven wooden fence across the river, a traditional first nation fishing method. There was nobody fishing as it was a weekday when they close the river to help with the conservation of the salmon.

At the Cultural Center we saw many totem poles. The totems had signs describing their stories; some were violent stories of killing and revenge while others were of love and happiness. My attempts at drawing these great works of art were dismal, but I had my camera, so I took some photos.

After the Cultural Center we drove for 5 minutes to the train station in downtown Duncan where there were seven or eight more totems. These did not have the same in-depth description of them, but had signs telling what the carvings represented. Again my attempt at drawing was insufficient so I took more photographs.

Since this was the last stop of the tour, we all got back on the bus and headed back to school and to our second art block. Thanks to our Social Studies teachers, Mr. McLean, Mr. Robinson and Ms. Willow, for arranging this interesting learning opportunity.

Joe K, Grade 9

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