Man Turned to Stone: T'xwelátse • Ye Selsí:sele: The Grannies; Grandmothers

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Ye Selsí:sele: The Grannies; Grandmothers

When T'xwelátse was turned to stone, it was his wife who was given the responsibility of caring for him. From that time onward, the responsibility of caring for Stone T'xwelátse was given to the women of the T'xwelátse family and was passed on to their daughters or granddaughters, who became the caretakers for that generation.

The Grandmothers' Portraits

These Stó:lō women surround Stone T'xwelátse as his current caretakers. Descendants of T'xwelátse and members of the T'xwelátse family, they carry the responsibility of looking after their ancestor, a responsibility they inherited from their mothers and grandmothers before them. They are practising the Stó:lō principle "S'ólh Téméxw te it kwela. Xyólhmet te mekw'stám it kwelát."
We find ourselves today—two Nations, two societies—interconnected in our occupation and use of the land and resources of S'ólh Téméxw, without the benefit of recognizing each other and generally blind to the meaning and significance of the Stó:lō landscape that surrounds us.

Each Nation has its laws, beliefs, and ways of doing things. How do we get along? How do we reconcile our existence, our histories, our voices? How do we learn to live together in a good way? These are questions that we all face today, each and every one of us living here in this shared world. Coming up with an answer to this question is our challenge, one that promises to reward future generations with a better world of mutual understanding and respect. Learning to live together in a good way… it isn't easy, but it can be done if we put our minds and hearts to it. The first step lies in learning, the next in acting on what we've come to understand, respectfully, in a good way, and together.

Ye Selsí:sele: The Grannies; Grandmothers
David Campion, 2011, ink-jet prints, copper pipe, 40 x 40 inches