ÌÇÐÄSwag

Glossary

Beginning with pictograph-inspired sketches (left), Secwépemc artist Kelsey Jules has guided the vision of the graphic art (right) for the District Strategic Priorities. Explanations of the connections between the sketches and the graphic art are in the centre.

Hearthfire = The flame is the gathering place for all communities.

The circle represents the Tk'emlúps te Secwépemc Powwow Arbour which is located along the South Thompson River and is an open air structure.

The lines on the arbour represent when young girls improve their root digging skills by digging lines in the soil to strengthen their upper body. Women take care of the children and community which shows their physical, spiritual, and emotional strength.

The four colours (white, yellow, red ochre, black) represent the four cardinal directions, stages of life, times of day, seasons, and the four basic elements (fire, water, earth, air).

The way the four entrances are placed in the outer circle represents how many nations will gather together from all directions. It also is our medicine wheel and is used as a guide to help balance our intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and physical health.

The four sacred medicines (sage, cedar, kinnikinnik (tobacco), sweetgrass) are also represented in the colours of the medicine wheel.

Bear ²õ°ìé³¾Ð鳦¾±²õ represents Courage ³¦°ù±ð±ô°ù±ð±ôá±ô±ô³Ù²õÐé±ð and is known to be the medicine keeper who guides communities with the knowledge held in the medicines. The picture of Mount Peter and Mount Paul inside Bear’s paw represents how Bear holds the knowledge of Mother Earth in his steps and he has the courage to assist those in need by carrying medicines to them.

Eagle ²õ±è±ð±ôÐé±ç·Éé±çs represents Love ³æ·É±ð³æ·É¾±7ú²â²õ³Ù±ð³¾. He is our messenger. Eagle is the one who is closest to ³Ù±ç±ð±ô³Ù°ìú°ì·É±è¾±7 and sends positive thoughts and good medicine to Creator. He will also guide those who pass to the next part of their journey.

Beaver ²õ±ç±ô³Ü7ú·ÉÐé¾± represents Wisdom ²õ±ô±ð³æ±ôé³æ and is known to guide communities through role modeling hard work. The pictograph in beaver represents the pithouse, a traditional winter home of the Secwépemc people. Everyone needed to work together

to create this home. Women would decide where the home would go, men would gather supplies, and together they would build a home to survive the winter months.

Salmon ²õ±ç±ôé±ô³Ù±ð²Ô provides us with food and offers wisdom to those who approach respectfully xyemstem. He swims against the flow to complete his job; this shows how he endures hardship to achieve higher goals. There is a legend of how Salmon sacrificed himself to provide food for the people so they may survive on the land. These are the medicines that he provides for the people.

Turtle ²õ±è±ð±ô±çÐé·Éé±ç²õ represents Truth ·É±ð²Ô鳦·É±ð³¾ and is known to represent the sacred lands we live on known as Turtle Island. Mount Peter and Mount Paul are depicted on the back of turtle to show how she is carrying us and holding us and the earth on her back.

Swan ²õ±è±ð±ç³¾Ã­³¦ A legend tells of Swan resolving differences through the spirit of respect, reciprocity, and by sharing knowledge with others. Swan takes action and leadership to overcome problems. This shows how swan moves gracefully, openly, and honestly ·É±ð²Ô±ð³¦·É±ð³¾7ú²â with his community.

Coyote ²õ°ìÐé±ô±ð±è represents Humility ³Ù°ì·É±ð°ì·É±ð±ô³Ù°ì²õ³Ù²õú³Ù-°ì³Ù and is known to be the trickster and teacher. He is in the Legend of how Coyote and Bear made day and night.

Coyote had to compromise with bear who wanted night all of the time while coyote wanted day. Instead, they agreed to have both, half of the time was day and the other half was night. The ability to compromise shows Coyote’s humility.