Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Senkulmen

Four Indian Bands-Four Colours


This is the name of the new "Enterprise Business Park" near Oliver that is opening for construction this month. The park has been prepared with full service installations (including underground fibre-optic cables) and new roads and lane access for a cost of 4.5 million dollars. It is a joint project between the Government and the First Nations in the area. Chief Clarence Louie commissioned an impressive metal sculpture to be placed at its entrance. It was created by Virgil "Smoker" Marchand, an American Native Indian who was educated in his craft in the USA, and has many similar sculptures to his credit in BC. Recently the contract for the construction of a large new prison (nowadays we call it a Correctional Facility) was awarded and will be built and completed in this business park by 2014. It will house 360 cells. Here are a few photos of "Smokey's" work. He was reputedly called "La Poule" by his grandma which somehow translates as "Smokey". I thought it meant "the chicken?".....

3 comments:

L. D. said...

It really is a wonderful monument. We had a couple of different Indian tribes in this area.

FilipBlog said...

A very nice piece of art.

Greetings,
Filip

Desiree said...

The appeal of Native American Indians' life philosophy seems to be far reaching and is certainly felt even in Africa, where we have a wealth of differing cultures. It's so good to hear that the government is adding value to the lives of the descendants of those who were so brutally treated by the colonialists of the past. I love this sculpture. It really speaks to ones soul.