The Tzinquaw Story pole was carved in 1986 by Harvey Alphonse and Kelly Antoine. It is 4.6m (15’1″) in height and stands on Kenneth Street between Craig Street and Jubilee Street.
The Cowichan Tribes explanation of this pole is:
“The story goes that Quw’wutsun’ people were starving because the Killer Whale prevented the Salon from coming up the Cowichan River. So the people prayed day after day, until finally their prayers were answered. The Tzinqua (Thunderbird) came and picked up the Killer Whale [and] deposited it on Mt. Tzouhalem. The Salmon started coming up the river again. In this case, the pole depicts the Thunderbird as a saviour and protector of our people and the Killer Whale as a monster.”
