A figure to welcome all that enter Bothwell Elementary stands tall in the Surrey school, with the children thrilled to have the new addition in their daily lives.
Made by Sts’ailes (Chehalis) master carver Gary Leon, Bothwell's school community officially unveiled the welcome post on Monday morning, bringing much needed light and happiness to the otherwise stormy day.
"As a school community, we're really thankful for all of the work that Paula James and the Surrey district did to have the local pole here at Bothwell. It's meaningful to us because since 1998, the school has been attended by many Katzie and Coast Salish First Peoples, First Nations, Inuit and Metis people," said principal Krissy Eppele.
During the unveiling, the male Katzie students were in attendance to act as witnesses, and the remaining Indigenous students also watched on as the rest of the school watched a livestream of the event from the school's gymnasium.
The school also invited Indigenous drummers and singers to share with the school before the ceremony kicked off with former Bothwell students also in attendance.
"When talking with some of the Katzie kids here, they were going to be witnesses to the pole so I asked them, I said 'What do you think about the welcome pole?' and they said a welcome pole is important because it welcomes guests to the land of the Katzie and other Coast Salish First People, and it's a welcome each day to the school community whose territory we're learning on, and for me, I see it as a reminder to continue the work as a school community to remember and learn about the territory of the people that are from this land," Eppele said.
"It was a very special day for all of us. The kids are still talking about it, and it's amazing that we can see it now because it's been covered since it was installed so the kids are very, very excited. Master carver Gary said the kids are allowed to touch it and give it hugs, so they're pretty excited for that."
Paula James, Indigenous district language and culture facilitator with the district’s Indigenous Learning department, has been overseeing the welcome poles at several Surrey schools. Maddaugh Elementary was the first to have its unveiled in the spring of 2023.
“One of the main reasons is to welcome the Indigenous families in a way that is from their culture, their background, while respecting the local territory,” James said in a release at the time.
“This is a strong, beautiful culture, and it’s important that even the visitors to our schools see that we are, as a district, taking part in acknowledging the territories of the Coast Salish people."
At the ceremony, Leon said it was an "honour" to have his work displayed at the school, in its new home.
“Students are welcome to go up and give it a hug or put your hand on it. I’m hoping you guys will enjoy it – treat it well and it’ll treat you well, if you look after it, it will look after you," he added.
