Saanichton Bay has historically been, and continues to be significant to the Saanich peoples of Tsawout. The bay provided shelter from the prevailing southeast gales of winter, a year-round source of food, as well as playing an integral role in the Tsawout economic, societal, social, and spiritual life. Because of these reasons Saanichton Bay was one of the main winter village sites of the Saanich peoples, and that is why Tsawout “Indian Reserve” is located there today
Saanichton Bay becomes the focal point of a court battle, Claxton v. Saanichton Bay Marina in 1987. Louis Claxton and the Tsawout peoples were awarded a permanent injunction in the BC Supreme Court against the construction of a marina in the bay. Mr. Justice Meredith ruled that James Douglas "implemented a policy to protect the Indians in their right to pursue their traditional economy of hunting and fishing" and so concluded "that they had the right to resist....the proposed marina at Saanichton Bay as it would diminish in the extent the fishery contractually reserved to predecessors " of the original signatories to the Douglas Treaty.
It is important to mention that the people of Tsawout were not stationary at Saanichton Bay year-round, though this was our "headquarters". The Saanich peoples territory includes the Saanich Peninsula, south to Mount Douglas, across to Mount Finlayson and Goldstream. In addition, the Southern Gulf Islands, reaching to Point Roberts, and San Juan Islands constituted what is the Saanich Peoples traditional territory. The Tsawout and Saanich people’s traditional territory is the lands and seas that we traditionally used throughout every season. Names were given to all places we knew, every bay, every stream, every village, every mountain, every lake, every inlet, and island has a name in our language, the SENCOTEN language. Our Language, place names, stories, history is what defines our territory and speaks to our long standing relationship to the land and waters.
Get your own Totem Pole, authentic, hand carved by Bear (Doug) Horne
Get your own Totem Pole, starting at 8 foot, solid cedar, authentic, hand carved, direct from the artist
Call for Pricing: 778-350-3555
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Spirit Raven Totem Pole, fantastic piece by Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Spirit Raven Totem by Bear (Doug) Horne from the Tsawout Nation, true and authentic Indigenous art
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Portrait Mask, very fine carving by Bear (Doug) Horne
Authentic Portrait Mask by Bear (Doug) Horne from the Tsawout Nation, Vancouver Island
$1,580.00 CDN
$1,122.12 USD
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Eagle landing, superb quality on cedar, by Indigenous artist Bear (Doug) Horne
Landing Eagle, authentic and hand carved, direct from Bear (Doug) Horne
$1,380.00 CDN
$980.08 USD
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36" tall red cedar Spirit Raven, authentic and carved by Bear (Doug) Horne
Spirit Raven on red cedar, 36" tall, gorgeous piece of art direct from artist Bear (Doug) Horne
$1,790.00 CDN
$1,271.26 USD
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Eagle, high quality and deep carving lines by Tsawout artist Bear (Doug) Horne
Beautiful Eagle, hand carved, authentic and direct from artist Bera (Doug) Horne, Tsawout/Coast Salish art
$1,290.00 CDN
$916.16 USD
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Multiple Character Sterling Silver pendant by Solomon Seward
Six character sterling silver pendant by Solomon Seward
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Large cedar Heron and Frog art carving by Bear (Doug) Horne
Gorgeous 42" tall Heron and Frog wall art carving by Tsawout/Coast Salish artist Bear (Doug) Horne
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Owl, yellow cedar, gorgeous piece of art by Bear (Doug) Horne
Yellow cedar Owl, wall art carving by Bear (Doug) Horne from the Tsawout First Nation
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Eagle Sculpture, cedar, by Bear (Doug) Horne
Eagle Sculpture, hand carved, designed and signed by Tsawout First Nation artist Bear Horne
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Blue Heron, 36 1/2" tall, red cedar, Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Gorgeous Blue Heron, hand carved, red cedar, by Doug Horne from the Coast Salish First Nation
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Eagle and little Spirit, cedar Mask, Bear Horne - SOLD
Eagle spirit mask by Tsawout First Nation artist Bear (Doug) Horne
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Blue Heron, yellow cedar, black rim by Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Gorgeous Blue Heron, authentic, hand carved, cedar by Bear Horne, Coast Salish/Tsawout First Nation
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Eagle Spirit Portrait Mask by Tom LaFortune
Eagle Spirit Portrait Mask by Tom La Fortune
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Sisiutl - Sea Serpent by Carl Stephen Wamiss
Sisiutl - Sea Serpent by Carl Stephen Wamiss, beautiful!
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Mother Bear with 2 cubs by Aubrey LaFortune
Mother Bear with 2 cubs by Aubrey LaFortune from the Coast Salish First Nation
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Eagle with Salmon, 43", hand carved by Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Very tall Eagle and Salmon, cedar wall art by Bear Horne from the Tsawout First Nation of the Coast Salish
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Raven, red cedar wall art, by Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Raven, hand carved and signed by Bear Horne from the Tsawout First Nation
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Blue Heron, red cedar by Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Wonderful Blue Heron, cedar art by Bear (Doug) Horne, Tsawout Nation
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Black Raven, vintage piece by Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Elegant Raven Sculpute, Bear (Doug) Horne, Tsawout First Nation
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Heron and Salmon, yellow cedar sculpture, Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Yellow cedar Heron and Salmon Sculpture by Bear (Doug) Horne, Tsawout/Coast Salish First Nation
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Blue Moon, by Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Blue Moon, gorgeous, by Bear (Doug) Horne from the Tsawout First Nation
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Yellow cedar, Thunderbird, 29 1/2", Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
29 1/2" Thunderbird on yellow cedar by Bear (Doug) Horne from the Tsawout nation
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Hummingbird Sculpture, yellow cedar, by Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
3D Hummingbird Sculpture, yellow cedar by Bear Horne from the Coast Salish Nation
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27 1/2" tall Eagle and Wolf Sculpture by artist Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
27 1/2" large Eagle and Wolf Sculpture, 3D, by Bear (Doug) Horne
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Eagle, hand carved, hand painted, Bear (Doug) Horne - SOLD
Hand carved Eagle, cedar art by Bear (Doug) Horne from the Coast Salish First Nation
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