dSpace: Adams on Gabriola Petroglyphs

Gabriola Petroglyph Design Elements. Source: Adams 2003.

One recent M.A. thesis I was really looking forward to reading is by Amanda Adams entitled Visions cast on stone : a stylistic analysis of the petroglyphs of Gabriola Island, B.C., from UBC Anthropology 2003, and available for free download here.

I was particularly interested to read the instructions she received on proper deportment when visiting the rock art:

Sites were visited in a manner and with a personal code of conduct adhering to Snuneymuxw wishes. Petroglyph sites were not visited at either dawn or dusk. A respectful demeanor was expected as was an “open heart and mind” (Bill Seward, Snuneymuxw elder, personal communication 2002). I was asked to give my full attention to the petroglyphs and their sacredness, not allowing daily distractions to interfere with my concentration on the ancient imagery. These expectations were met to the best of my ability. (18-19)

While many archaeologists are under the impression that there is little to no ethnographic information about petroglyphs, I have long felt that more likely such knowledge is private or highly privileged and not readily shareable.  In this self-serving sense, it was gratifying to see that Adams was able to record some such information:

Snuneymuxw Elder, Bill Seward, asserts that many petroglyphs were made by shamans, hunters and vision seekers (personal communication 2002) while Elder Ellen White maintains that the carvings were places where people both sought and gained power. She explained that “men would be stripped – even in cold weather and laid on top of each petroglyph – learning the spirit world, connecting to the area.” She also noted that the pitted ‘dots’ surrounding several of the carvings were “points of access”, places where one could dip their fingers into pools of “energy” and reservoirs of strength (Archaeology Forum group tour 2002).  (p 13)

Another welcome aspect of Adams’ thesis is her direct comparison to portable art. 

Rock Art on Gabriola Island in 1792

Descanso Bay Rock Art, 1792. Source: U. Washington

From the University of Washington, an unexpected image of a large Gabriola Island rockshelter containing rock art, entititled:

Northwest Coast carvings on cliff near Descanso Bay, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, in engraving made 1792.

Cardero, Jose, b. 1767 or 8

Notes: Photograph of engraving of explorers and indians viewing a carved head and other petroglyphs on the side of a cliff. The caption says it is a view of a natural gallery, one hundred feet long, and ten feet wide near Descanso Bay.

Caption on image: Vista de una galeria natural, ce cien pies de largo y diez de ancho, en la inmediacion del puerto del Descanso, en el estrecho de Juan de Fuca Image from Alessandro Malaspina’s Viaje politico-cientifico alrededor del mundo, 1885, f.p. 200

I presume this is the “Malaspina Galleries” near the ferry terminal – I didn’t know there was rock art there though and maybe there isn’t, anymore.  Perhaps this place, or this one? Or, perhaps the unusual pitted and pocked natural sandstone fooled the Spanish, though it sure looks like there is a large image in the middle of that engraving.   Quick, Gabriolans, trot down there and check it out.

Malaspina Galleries, Gabriola Island. Photo: Kevin Oke.

The Gabriolan

Gabriola Petroglyph. Source: The Gabriolan.ca

Another blog linked to me the other day: The Gabriolan. This is a lovely blog, whose mysterious author has a great eye for the quirky and beautiful things about that Island. I especially like the various pictures of unusual things found in the woods, like antlers on trees. On my quick browse through the site I noted the excellent photograph of a Gabriola Island petroglyph which I am posting above. This is not a petroglyph I am familiar with though I don’t have my books in front of me.  I’ll look it up.  With its double-rendered eyes and protruding ears, it may be Mouse-Woman.  But anyway, anonymous Gabriolan, thanks for the link, and look after those petroglyphs.

Gabriola Petroglyphs at Elaine Seavey’s blog

Anthropomorphic petroglyph on Gabriola Island. Note how the patina of the rock has been disturbed by tracing.

Gabriola Island has some of the most spectacular and important petroglyphs in the world — and unfortunately, they are just as threatened by developers and development pressures, as I have noted before.  Since these sites seem to not always matter as much as I think they should, it is nice to see an awestruck first person account by a person with no vested interest.  Why on earth would those who purport to love and respect Gabriola Island and  Snuneymuxw culture be so intent on diminishing this kind of experience?

Even so, I must comment on the destructive practice of rubbing, not so much through cloth but the scraping of the lines to remove weathering patina and lichen in order to take clearer photographs.  This is a very unfortunate practice which hastens the disintegration of the rock art.

More on Gabriola Island Real Estate

This real estate company on Gabriola Island commendably lists the procedures, responsibilities, costs and benefits of archaeological sites on private property.  I don’t know if they handle properties for the despicable Legends at Spirit Rock development – I hope not – but I do applaud their transparency and forward thinking in putting archaeological sites front and centre and giving accurate information to their clients as to proper protocols for protecting these witnesses to history.  I also applaud them for not attempting to sell properties based on ignorant hocus pocus about the residual healing powers of the shaman who used to come to your rock garden.

More on the “Legends at Spirit Rock” Development

Glenna Borsuk LinkedIn Profile

Glenna Borsuk, The President of Centre Stage Holdings, parent company responsible for the “Legends at Spirit Rock” development, which is encroaching on petroglyphs on Gabriola Island, has a profile on LinkedIn — a sort of networking site for business people.  On this web site she unbelievably writes the following:

I am devoted to creating a community of like minded people who recognize the uniqueness of the Gulf Islands and our specific site, not only in terms of its natural beauty but its’ ability to reconnect one with the power of the earth to heal and inspire. The Legends at Spirit Rock property on Gabriola Island has a 3,000 year history of attracting healers and people with a special sense of the importance of the environment , sharing of resources and celebrating the power of now. My role is to attract those persons who are drawn to this like mindedness to expand the network of similarly motivated people to enhance the vision of the project. (screenshot)

This parallels the singularly crass language used at the Legends at Spirit Rock development:

Shaman of these First Nations were drawn to the lands we now call “The Legends at Spirit Rock Estates” and visited annually, for several thousand years, to exchange medical supplies and information as evidenced by the prolific petroglyphs, midden sites and artifacts.

View from the Petroglyph Boulder uphill past other petroglyphs, to cutblock and industrial activity.

I’ve been to this petroglyph site.  I’ve seen the encroaching destruction.  It is unfortunate Legends at Spirit Rock development, controlled by Centre Stage Holdings,  attempts to appropriate thousands of years of First Nations spirituality to sell their property development, which itself destroys First Nations’ culture.  They are selling people land that is haunted by ghosts.  The fact that they attempt to do so makes me wonder, are they:

(a) venal
(b) crass
(c) greedy
(d) ignorant
(e) all of the above

Petroglyphs are not lifestyle amenities.

Flagging tape and survey stakes within 5 metres of World-Class rock art.

I am shocked at the proximity of development to some of the finest petroglyphs in the world, those on Gabriola Island. In the picture to the left, I am standing between two clusters of flagging tape 5 metres from the petroglyph in the foreground, where there is also a wooden survey stake and shot rock on the ground. Development has already encroached within 30 metres of this amazing site since 2002 and shows no signs of stopping. This is an outrage and is completely unacceptable. I am not interested in whatever compromises or tradeoffs that led to this. We have known since the Stein River case – 20 years ago – that we cannot treat rock art as co-terminus with the design. Ethical archaeology requires that a buffer be provided around rock art and many other sites in order to ensure the character of the art is preserved. If the BC Heritage Conservation Art cannot protect this site, then as far as I am concerned, no site in British Columbia is safe.

To add insult to injury, the developers are using these petroglyphs, which if nothing else are the intellectual property of the Snuneymuxw First Nation, in their advertising. These developers, who go by the name “The Legends at Spirit Rock” are cynically suggesting there is spiritual benefit to living close to these ancient sites.  Indeed, Oprah says so! They have a photogallery, which carefully does not show the blasted forest within 30 metres of the site.

As the advertising for the Gabriola Island development “Legends at Spirit Rock” says, “A community invigorated by the natural physical beauty of the land, forest, ocean and mountains, inspired by the significant spiritual, healing energy of the First Nations history, and enthused by the opportunity to live in a development that created a substantial environmental legacy. A community that embraces these values with homes of quality and expression of individual character and soul while promoting environmental preservation, respect for the land and its’ history, the neighbours, the community and the West Coast, Gulf Islands lifestyle …..The “Perfect Place to Live.”

Yes, the perfect place to live is within a few metres of these sites – here is the same petroglyph as above used as advertising fodder.

Petroglyphs are not lifestyle amenities nor advertising copy.

Note the metre stick — this is an archaeologist’s picture.  Do they even own the copyright to this picture, let alone the art depicted?  Do they say that they have flagged within 5 metres of this boulder?  Do they note they have encroached on this world-class site?  Do they tell people that there are hundreds of human burials known from within 500 metres of this place and that the occupants of the Legend at Spirit Rock will be living in a cemetery?  Do they tell people that this development will channel not healing energy, but will induce grave spiritual danger for their clients?

This is so crass I can’t even begin to express it.  Desecrating one of the most significant rock art sites in the Province does not allow you to claim there is “significant spiritual, healing energy of the First Nations history”.  Have you no shame, Legends at Spirit Rock developers?  Needless to say, I am raising this issue with the Archaeology Branch of the Government of BC.  Something has gone terribly, terribly wrong.  This is a case where the only response is a righteous anger and a deep and abiding shame.