Repatriated Nuxalk Totem Pole Makes it to Williams Lake, Completing Roughly Half of its Journey Home After 100 Years Away

A ceremony was held in Williams Lake yesterday to welcome a delegation from the Nuxalk Nation as they guide a long-lost totem pole home.

Carved by Chief Louie Snuxyaltwa in the 1800s, the pole was stolen from the village of Talleomy and sold to the Royal BC Museum in 1912.

On Monday, the pole began its trip home with the museum finally agreeing to release it after a lawsuit was filed by Chief Deric Snow.

By 5:00 yesterday evening, it had completed roughly half of the journey to Bella Coola, stopping off in Williams Lake.

There, the Williams Lake First Nation welcomed the delegation with a ceremony at Sugar Cane to honour the historic repatriation.

They’ll hit the road again today and are expected to complete the journey home next Monday.