Welcome

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:22:17 +0000

Aboriginal and Cultural Themes Explored

Longhouse Publishing publishes quality books on Aboriginal and cultural themes. We draw on over 50 years of combined experience and knowledge on Aboriginal culture, writing and production.

Longhouse Publishing also produces other culturally-related print materials such as: signage, corporate reports, booklets and brochures. Working with First Nations, we’re especially sensitive to the cultural and spiritual protocols of the Aboriginal people and we have a deep understanding of the social and political realities that all First Nations face today. Read [more]

Sepass Poems Sponsors

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:13:49 +0000

To all our generous Sponsors, our hands are raised to you! Thank you very much.

Copper
Cloudworks Energy Inc.
Lorraine & Ralph Berezan and Family

Dentalia
Chilliwack Foundation / Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre Society
University of the Fraser Valley
Dr. Paul Aceman & Rahel In memory of Shifra Sheila Aceman z”l. Her spirit soars with the eagles.
Peter Grant & Barbara Cochran
Earl Wilder & Nicole Wilder
Sxwoxwiyam & Family

Obsidian
BC Transmission Corporation / Chehalis Indian Band
Chilliwack Rotary Club
School District 78 (Fraser-Cascade)
Golder Associates Ltd.
Planit Management Inc.
EBA Consulting Engineers and Scientists
Museum of Anthropology, The University of British Columbia
Rosalynn, Aleeta & Jenna Sepass
Norman Sepass & Alice Celestine Billy-Sepass
Hugh Sepass, Aaron Commodore, Serena Commodore and Joseph Commodore
Sto:lo Tribal Council
Jayson Malloway-Sepass, Nicole Malloway-Sepass and Melvin Malloway III

If you would like to become a Sponsor for the Trade Edition of Sepass Poems, and have your name added to the book, please contact us at Longhouse Publishing.

Download the Sponsor Package:

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Sepass Poems Foreword

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:12:02 +0000

Chief William Sepass

Skowkale First Nation has a wonderful history full of very interesting people, one of whom is Old Chief William Sepass. His legacy has not only been his contributions as Chief, but also his book, Sepass Poems. Any nation of people are defined not just by what they eat or the language they speak, but rather by their values and beliefs.

These values and beliefs are preserved in their history, and for the Stó:lõ and Xwelmexw, in our oral tradition. Xwelmexw (Coast Salish) mythology is more than just bedtime stories. These old stories contain the very fabric that forms the basis of our cultural identity. Many of our ceremonies and practices can be traced back to some of these very fundamental concepts about creation and about our connection to the Creator. The Xwelmexw cannot be fully understood by simply studying anthropology reports or archaeology findings. Our oral tradition provides the key to a broader view of who the Xwelmexw people were and are today.

These myths and legends as recorded in the Sepass Poems form a vital link to our past and to this Xwelmexw world view that was cradled in the minds and hearts of our Elders over many hundreds of generations.

Our Xwelmexw youth will truly benefit from reading these poems because they contain the essence of Xwelmexw traditional beliefs and spiritual values. Since European contact our traditional knowledge has been under siege. This new edition of Sepass Poems offers a unique opportunity to correct this historic wrong committed in the name of assimilation by filling in this knowledge gap left by years of neglect and suppression.

In 1949 George Clutesi said this about the Sepass Poems: “These poems will be the Indian classic of the future”. By this, I think he meant that like the Homeric legends of Western thought, the Sepass Poems are a profound legacy to future Xwelmexw generations as they continue to seek meaning and stability in an ever-changing modern world.

I wish to express my sincere thanks to the Sepass family for sharing this book with us. It is a very proud moment indeed for all of us Xwelmexw people and the people of the world to see this new publication of such an important and historic piece of our past now made available for everyone to read and to appreciate.

Grand Chief Steven Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia

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O-Ah-Bitz, Child of the Sun

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:09:28 +0000

The daughter of the Sun

Walked in the meadows of the sky,

But Sqw?qweqw,

White bird of magic, strong thought of Xá:ls,

Turned himself into Sts’á:xt, the twig,

And hid in a cloud,

Where he lay and watched her,

The daughter of the Sun,

Walking, walking,

Across Sóyéxel, the sky.

The daughter of the Sun

Was thirsty

And drank from the cloud.

[Back to list of poems]

Slek’iyáp, the Coyote’s Son

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:07:56 +0000

Slek’iyáp

Saw a white bird in a tree.

He said:

“I will get Téxwets, my bow,

And Sàkweláx, my arrow….

I will shoot that small white bird in the tree.”

He shot his arrow,

And it fell harmless to the ground.

Again he shot….

Again it fell.

Slek’iyáp said:

“I will climb that tree….

I will shoot that white bird!”

He climbed the tree

But, however he aimed,

Back came Sàkweláx, the arrow, to his hand again.

[Back to list of poems]

Syuwíl, the Sorcerer

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:06:47 +0000

Deep in the forest

Syuwíl, the sorcerer,

Lived with his two sisters,

Sétl’àtel and Sqiqá:q …

The old one … and the young one…

While Syó:qwem, the sun,

Walked in Sóyéxel, the sky,

He lived

As any other warrior of the tribe

But when Sqwétxem, the evening mists,

Drifted like smoke

From the fires of Kwósel, the pale stars,

Syuwíl

Went out from the camp

And was gone,

As the mists go

When Syó:qwem, the sun,

Wakes from his sleep

And comes through O-ah-bitz, the red door,

To stand again,

In Sóyéxel, the sky.

[Back to list of poems]

The Stl’áleqem, Lake Mystery

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:03:44 +0000

Many years ago

Before the first thought

Of the oldest man,

Far away in the Northland

Dwelt a young warrior.

Slim was he as the white birch

By the river side;

Straight was he as an arrow

From the sheath at his belt;

Proud was he as the eagle plumes

Crowning his forehead,

And brave

As the fierce she-bear

When her young are attacked.

Many a war song

Told of his valour;

Oft-times the lips of the tribe singer

Cried forth his name;

Dark eyes of maidens followed his lithe form

As, at even-time,

He strode through the village.

But he, the warrior,

Fearless and unconquered,

Loved not the warpath:

[Back to list of poems]

Croon Maiden

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:02:37 +0000

On the highest rock,

Where the waves part

And the winds sweep,

Where the Storm Lake

Yields to the hill thrust

And curves

In rounded bays

To the land of the Sóyéxel, the far sky,

There, in the old days,

Ts’xwaylhem the Q’amí, the Croon Maid,

Sang

To the winds

And the waves

And the brown hills.

Strange were her songs above the waters.

[Back to list of poems]

Salmon Baby

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 17:01:24 +0000

When the flood was gone

And the banks of streams

Rose out of the mud

To the warm light of Syó:qwem, the sun,

Trees remembered their drowned buds

And put out leaves;

Flowers bloomed,

And Swáyél, the earth,

Came back, little by little,

To the beauty of Old Time.

Kw’í:tsel Spá:th

Saw Tsí:chí:tmexw,

The land on the other side of the sky.

He felt the fire

Of Shxwexwó:s, the Great Bird;

He returned again to his own land,

And in his mind

Grew slowly the memory

Of Sthéqi, the great salmon.

He looked in the streams;

His little eyes

Searched greedily the waters of Shxwtl’ep láts Stó:l?,

The mighty river;

Qéywx was there, the steelhead,

And Qw’e’áts, the flatfish,

But Sthéqi, the chief, came no more.

[Back to list of poems]

Kw’í:tsel Spá:th ~ Grizzly Bear

Leanne — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:59:38 +0000

Syewá:l

Lay buried in the mud,

But still,

Deep in his sluggish brain

Burned the old memory,

The Wish and the Will,

The half-known hope,

Gift of Xá:ls …

All that was left

Of the first man,

Friend of Xá:ls

And chief of Swáyél, the earth.

Worms grew to fish,

Fish grew to birds,

Birds grew to beasts,

Until, at last,

Kw’í:tsel Spá:th, the grizzly bear,

Stood up on two legs,

Tall, like a man,

And in his wakening mind

Old memories quickened,

Called, demanded;

Kw’í:tsel Spá:th heard the message

And knew it was for him.

He remembered Syewá:l and Xá:ls,

And Tsí:chí:tmexw,

The land beyond Sóyéxel, the sky.

He saw Syó:qwem, the sun

Rise out of the edge of the sea.

He saw O-ah-bitz, the red dawn,

Colouring all the water.

Kw’í:tsel Spá:th thought:

Syó:qwem, the sun,

Comes out of O-ah-bitz, the red door;

I will go through that red door

And see Xwélmexw,

The people of that land.

[Back to list of poems]