K'omoks Origin Stories

Artistic depiction of Queneesh Glacier

The glacier/white whale

Like other First Nations, the K'omoks have a story that explains their origins.


A long time ago, two men, Koai’min and He’k’ten descended from the sky. They became the ancestors of the PE’ntlatc (Pentlatch). Once the sea receded far from its shore and the women went out far and filled their baskets with fish. The bottom of the sea remained dry for a long time. But He’k’ten was afraid that the water would rise that much higher later on. Therefore, he made a long rope of cedar branches and toed four boats together. At last the water really flowed back and began to flood the shore. So he tied the rope to a big rock in the mouth of the PE’ntlatc (Pentlatch) River, fastened the other end to the boats and the two chief families floated about on the rafts. The other people begged He’k’ten, “Oh, allow us to tie our boats to your rope. We will give you our daughters as wives.” But He’k’ten didn’t allow it and pushed them awaywith poles. When the water receded again, they alone found their home again, while the others were scattered about the wide world. A whale remained stranded high up on the mountain near PE’ntlatc (Pentlatch) Lake. The water up there froze and it was unable to get away again. It can still be seen there today and that is why the glacier in the PE’ntlatc (Pentlatch) Valley is called K’one-is (Queneesh).

Taken from http://www.comoxband.ca/origin-stories

Here is a longer version of the Legend of Queneesh.

The Comox people numbered in the thousands and spoke their own language. In this world, when people went to sleep at night the only sounds they could hear were the sounds of nature. And other than the moon and the stars the only light came from the fires in the big houses.

On just such a night an old man Qwoi qwa lak had a dream. In this dream a voice woke him up and told him that he must go to his Chief and warn him of a coming disaster. When Qwoi qwak lak woke up, he remembered what had happened to him during the night. The power of the voice that spoke to him, the clear direct advice as to what must be done made him realize that he must act.

Qwoi qwa lak went to the lodge of the Chief of the Comox people, Gye gya janook, and requested an audience. The old man told the Chief about his strange and compelling dream. The voice in his dream told him that he must repeat to his chief what the dream had said.

The voice warned that soon the rain will begin to fall and it will not stop for a long, long time. Day after day, and night after night it will rain. This constant rain will result in tremendous flooding such as the people have never seen before. The voice warned that in order for the Comox people to save themselves they must work hard to prepare for this time. If they are willing to do as the voice advises the people will remain safe in their own land.

Gye gya janook, Chief of Comox, thought about what the old man had told him. This was a grave prediction with serious consequences if it was ignored. Finally because First Nations people have such respect for the advice of their elders, the Chief decided that he must act on this revelation.

Gye gya janook called all the people together and told them about Qwoi qwa lak’s dream. He told them that their present plans must be put aside. He assigned one group of people to build more canoes, others to harvest cedar bark, and still others to pound and prepare it for weaving. Qwoi qwa lak was to oversee the weaving of the huge cedar bark rope which must be miles in length.

Other people got busy preparing food that could keep for long periods of time. Fish must be smoked, clams and cockles had to be dried, seaweed preserved, deer hunted and the meat cured and readied.

Everyone had a job to do and everyone began to carry out the tasks that they were given.

Capes and hats were made from woven cedar bark that are able to shed the rain were a must.  Young boys taught carefully by the older men, made bailers - many will be needed! Even the children had to give up their games to help.

People had to also decide which objects would have priority in the space available and what must be left behind.  Ceremonial dress and rattles are treasures that must be kept safe.

 

Finally, because the people had been diligent, because they listened, because they worked hard, because they had been cooperative and because from the youngest to the oldest each one had done his or her best, the Comox people were finally prepared. And lo, just in time the rain began to fall.

A group of the strongest and wisest young men were sent to make the trek to the top of the glacier that rose above the valley. They were to use their judgment as to the ideal location for the cedar rope to be attached. Choosing the right place was crucial as the very future of their families and loved ones depended on the correct choice.

It rained and it rained and it rained, day after day and night after night. Before long the river began to flood and the people had to get into their canoes and attach the canoes to the great cedar rope. Soon the water rose up over the totem poles and the people watch as many of their wonderful possessions such as bentwood boxes floated by. There was just not enough room in the canoes for all these things.

The trees in the valley and then even on the mountainside became covered as the water rose higher and higher. But the rain continued to pour down and the people became more and more afraid. The canoes required constant bailing and the children were very afraid and unhappy as they could no longer run on the green grass or play on the beaches. The world became one of water and sky, a very dismal sky. Daylight and darkness came each in their turn but the rain continued relentlessly.

Each person asked the other what will happen when the flood waters rise to where our young men have tied the rope. A great fear spread among the canoes. Eventually the day came when the glacier was almost covered and only the topmost parts can be seen.

The Chief, his medicine man, Ha ha geelth and every person in each canoe prayed to the Great Spirit. As they prayed, fearfully waiting and holding their breath something they had never dreamed possible occurred.

The glacier, their glacier that they had seen and watched for years from a distance seemed to suddenly take on a life of its own. It began to float, then it broke through the surface of the flood waters in the same way a giant grey whale breeches. The water running off the glacier and foaming around the canoes caused a huge commotion.

At first people are in awe of this strange happening and then slowly, as they begin to understand what has happened the Comox people began to cry out and cheer: “The glacier is a huge white whale!” Then they began to chant, “Queneesh, Queneesh”, as before their eyes the glacier had indeed become a huge white whale.

Soon to add to the joy of the people the rain stopped. After weeks of constant rain this seems as added miracle. The people cheered again and for the first time they slept well and were comfortable in their canoes. No one had to bail!

 

In the morning the sun shone brightly. The air was fresh and sweet. Steam rose from clothing and belongings as things began to dry. Great excitement ran from one canoe to another; people were laughing, talking and calling back and forth. The time of sitting silently and fearfully wondering was over.

Plans began for a giant celebration when they were all safely back on the site of their own village. They knew there would be much work to do but they also knew they would be safe in their own land, Comox. The air filled with sounds of laughter, chattering and words of praise and thankfulness.

The rain had stopped at the perfect time. Queneesh had floated almost free of the mountain, but not quite. Now the water began to recede, Queneesh began to settle back into his former position where people see and admire him to this very day, overlooking the whole Comox Valley as if he were a king on his throne.

So honoured is Queneesh that he is symbolized in paint on the front of the one remaining big houses of the Comox. Those who are truly Comox are still heard to whisper to him, “Kwa la whee gai, Queneesh. Thank you, thank you.”

 

Taken from https://web.viu.ca/spiderworks/queneesh.htm 

Queneesh, the white whale on the mountain has remained an important aspect to the modern K'omoks, and acts a part of the symbol of their nation.

Taken from http://www.comoxband.ca/origin-stories