| Millennium
Park: The spirit of the Golden
Spruce Tree lives on! In the heart of Port Clements Village
a seedling survives from the original magical Golden Spruce Tree
that once stood on the Yakoun River. The seedling's new home is
kept in the maintained and well manicured Millennium Park
in Port Clements on Graham Island in the Queen Charlottes.
Today in Millennium Park is a
small, fragile Golden Spruce seedling that is kept in a guarded
and protected fenced yard in the small park. The story goes, the
seedling is the last surviving seedling of 14 seeds taken from
the Yakoun River Golden Spruce- some with consent, some without.
The seedlings were taken by a University in an
effort to understand the tree and some seedlings were saved after
the tree was destroyed in 1997 in an effort to try and save the
memory of the legendary tall, vibrant Golden Spruce Tree.
In 1997, a self proclaimed "nature loving"
forestry worker wacko, cut the magical tree down as part of his
protest against the current logging practices implemented at that
time.
The significance of the Golden Spruce Tree
to the Haida First Nation people and to the Port Clements' tourism
industry was huge. The act of killing the golden wonder sent shock
waves through the Queen Charlottes and the world creating international
headlines covering three continents resulting in a massive man
hunt. This was not any normal tree eh!
Today, the short 20 minute Golden Spruce
Tree Trail still exists as a reminder to what was once
beautiful. There is a viewing bench still there that was once
used to admire the golden tree.The actual off-spring is now for
viewing in Port Clements at Millennium Park.
There is a Haida First Nation story speaking of
a Golden Spruce Tree and a small a boy. It goes
something like this. During the winter season a long time ago,
a young boy went down to the beach to relieve himself (#2). It
was too cold to squat, so he stood. When he looked down the turd
was standing up in the snow like a tree. The boy laughed and laughed.
Then the snow storm hit. Blizzard-like conditions
burying the village in snow - supplies soon diminished. Villagers
started to die of the cold and starvation until there were two
left. A young boy and his Grandfather. The future looked bleak
for the pair if they stayed in the village so they dug themselves
out and started trekking.
Soon the blizzard vanished and the forests came
alive with summer. They continued to walk searching for a new
village when the grandfather spoke to his grandson, " Don't
look back. If you do, you will go into the next world. A world
where people can admire you, but will not be able to speak with
you. You would be standing in that sacred place until the end
of the world."
Missing his fishing gear and his birthplace village,
the boy, could not resist one last look. Not believing his grandfather
the boy took one peek and his feet locked in. The boy was rooted
to the forest ground. Seeing the boy was taking root the Grandfather
spoke, " It is ok, my son. The last generation will come
to see you and remember your story." The boy was the Golden
Spruce.
|
Millennium
Park
Port Clements