Longhouse
Native Education College is proud to provide classroom studies within the walls of a traditional Northwest Coast longhouse. We welcome you to drop by the longhouse and before entering our doors please take time to reflect on the carved pole that stands near our front doors.
"Wil Sayt Bakwhlgat" or The Story of the Pole
Wil Sayt Bakwhlgat is the name of the pole that stands at the front of the NEC Native Education College longhouse in Vancouver. It is a Nisga'a phrase meaning, "the place where people gather."
The pole was carved by Norman Tait, a Nisga'a artist. He carved the pole to show a story that was given to him by Hattie Ferguson, a Tshimshian woman from Kitkatla. A plaque at the NEC Native Education College says, "This pole is dedicated to all Indian people who have gone on before, to those who currently struggle for our survival and the generations yet unborn."
The whole story of the pole starts off when Man was alone on this earth. He was alone for a long while. You can see Man right at the bottom of the pole. He wandered the earth and was being taken care of by the spirits.
Then one day he wondered, "Why am I alone? Isn't there anyone in this forest who could help me?" And the spirit of the forest said, "I will give you Black Bear. And if you learn to live in harmony with him. I will send you more of my children." He did. Man learned to live with the forest people. Then he went on. In his travels, he noticed that there was nobody in the water and said, "Why am I alone on the water?" The spirit of the water came forward and said, "I will give you one of my children." And he sent Blackfish. He said, "If you learn to live with the Blackfish, I will send you more." And Man learned how to live with the Blackfish and the people of the water.
Then as time went on, Man noticed that there was nothing in the sky. So he said to the sky spirit, "Send me one of your children. I've already proven twice that I could live with others than myself and my people." And the sky spirit sent him the Raven. Man proved again that he could live with them.
The proof that man could live with the spirit children of the forest, water and sky is everywhere around you. You look in the forest, and you will find abundant animals. You look up in the sky and you will see birds of all sorts. You look into the water and you will see creatures of all kinds. Man has learned how to live with them.
That was one of the first stories that was passed on. If you want your children to go on living with you, learn how to live with them. If you can live with them, you can live with each other and you can live with yourself. That's the story of the pole.
