Pkols sign removed from Mount Douglas

A CEDAR SIGN THAT HAD THE TRADITIONAL NAME PKOLS
carved on it, and was erected at the top of Mount Douglas in Saanich B.C. as a symbol of the First Nations’ historical connection to the area, was removed by Saanich municipal workers and put into storage. Last May the sign was put up as part of a reclaiming ceremony. But it had been screwed into the roof of a building on the site, and Saanich officials said it was unstable and water was leaking into the building, located at the mountain’s summit. A letter had been sent to Tsawout First Nation Chief Eric Pelkey to notify the leader of the problem, but Pelkey said the letter was misdirected within his office. The sign then was taken down without any of the nations of the area knowing where it had gone. Mayor Frank Leonard said Saanich should have put out a release about the sign’s removal, so there wasn’t confusion about where the sign went. He said discussion would soon take place on the future of the sign. “It’s such a significant landmark, that (later discussion) would likely involve all four (local First Nations),” Leonard said. “That discussion’s bigger than any one of us.”