After almost 30 years, a totem pole that has raised thousands of dollars for the Dr. REM Lee Hospital Foundation, which supports equipment purchases for Mills Memorial Hospital, has been returned to the Kitsumkalum First Nation.
Carved by Kitsumkalum artist and elder Annette Bolton, the pole was first donated to the foundation in 1989 by Clifford Bolton, who was the Kitsumkalum chief councillor at the time, for future fundraising efforts. It switched hands twice and was bought by Gerald Mitchell of Cole Petroleum in 1991, who then gave it back to the foundation with one condition.
“He said he wanted to see the value of the pole, $10,000, raised in an effort generated by Kitsumkalum. If we can do that, then this pole would come back to the Kitsumkalum community so we can have our young people enjoy it,” said Ron Bartlett, chair of the hospital foundation.
READ MORE: Kitsumkalum Walk for Health raises $17,500 for new hospital microscope
That goal was met with Kitsumkalum Tempo Gas Bar’s Walk for Health event last July, which raised more than $18,000 for the hospital foundation’s ophthalmology project. Foundation board members, Kitsumkalum leaders, Tempo Gas Bar staff, and other stakeholders gathered on Sept. 5 to note the fundraiser’s achievement and welcome back the totem pole to the Kitsumkalum Nation.
“When we bring a totem pole back, it’s not a small thing,” said Don Roberts, chief councillor for the Kitsumkalum First Nation, who said there will be a feast organized to celebrate later this year. “Once a pole is brought back to the community… where it’s put, that’s where it stays forever.”
The totem pole symbolizes a killer whale at the top, held by a human in the centre who is supported by a raven at the bottom. It will be put in a glass case for display either at the Kitsumkalum Treaty Office or the House of Sim-Oi-Ghets until a new office is built for Kitsumkalum, according to Roberts.
“The pole has built some history now, a lot of history. When it comes back, the history comes back with it too. It brings back our past elected chief Clifford, brings him back home again. And it also brings back [the person] who carved it, Annette,” Roberts said.
The pole has raised more than $30,000 for the R.E.M. Lee Hospital Foundation from various fundraising initiatives held around its purchase.
The money raised from the Walk for Health will go toward replacing the hospital’s current ophthalmology microscope, which is 15 years old and currently used in 24 to 36 surgeries a week.
*Correction - a previous online version of this article incorrectly identified Annette Bolton as Clifford Bolton’s husband. She is married to Clifford Bolton’s brother, Alex Bolton.
brittany@terracestandard.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
