Ambling Along

We've recently been discovering the numerous seawall and beach walks in the area. The most recent of these was Ambleside Park, where we discovered this well-shat-upon totem.

According to the city of West Vancouver, the Ambleside area was originally used for summer camping by Vancouver residents. It slowly evolved into cottage country and eventually permanent settlers inhabited the region. 


Actually, prior to the European invasion, the area was the home and fishing grounds of the Homulchesan (Xwemelch'stn) tribe of the Squamish Nation, some of whom still reside in the adjacent Capilano Indian Reserve No. 5. Funny how white people make up their own history as it suits them and their manifest destiny, eh?

This welcome totem was erected by the Squamish Nation in 2004. 

I think what the Squamish people welcome is not so much the dog walkers (but maybe the dogs) but rather the revenue they get from the land leases for the park, the port, and the Lions Gate bridge that connects Vancouver to West Vancouver.

The totem replaced this sculpture called 'Enclosed Line', created as part of the Wood Sculptures of Americas symposium, held at Klee Wyck in 1977. It was demolished after the wood was deemed unsafe and the piece was deemed un-art. [italics added]

Today, Ambleside is basically a dog park, and a pleasant enough place to amble and enjoy the sun.

I'm a sucker for shooting driftwood (call it photography 101).

A photograph of Ambleside Beach in 1918, after the settlers kicked out the original residents of the Squamish Nation, with swimmers and cabins along the waterfront.

As egregious as the displacement of the indigenous peoples was in the creation of Ambleside Park, the area was previously used a log booming grounds and staging point. So, you choose.