The Legend of the Queneesh
Long ago there were big cedar planked houses, totem poles and canoes in the Comox Valley. The nights were very quiet, except for the sounds of the water, sea birds and of hooting owls. One night an old man, Quoi Qwa Lak, had a dream. In that dream a voice told him that he must tell the chief and the Comox people to prepare for a great flood. They built canoes and packed them full of food and clothes. Te young men made a strong cedar rope and took it to the top of the glacier and fastened it tightly. the people tied their canoes to the rope, not to long after it began to rain, it rained and rained for days. Soon there was only a little of the glacier showing. The Comox people were afraid. Then all of a sudden the glacier began to move. The people began to cry "White Whale, White Whale! Queneesh, Queneesh. The glacier had taken the form of a whale and saved the people. The rain stopped, and Queneesh still stands guard over the Comox people to this very day.
Komox Big House: Legend of the Queneesh Ceremony
Comox Valley Art Gallery: Legend of the Queneesh Opening Reception
