Ladybug and the Flood

Artist/Curatorial Statement

In ancient times, Syalutsa, the first man who fell from the sky, had a vision that it would rain for many months. This long period of rain would flood the entire Cowichan Valley. In preparation, Syalutsa made the largest canoe ever made by a man. Using the longest cedar rope he could create, he tied the canoe to a boulder atop Mount Prevost. As his vision told him, it rained for months until the floodwater reached the top of Mount Prevost. Soon after, the floodwater began to raise Syalutsa’s giANT canoe, the large boulder became an anchor and Syalutsa feared he would soon face dEATh.

Before the great flood, Stutsun, the younger brother of Syalutsa, was also exploring the Cowichan Valley after he fell from the sky. During his exploration, he encountered Smuyqwa, the ladybug. Little ladybug knew of the great rain that would flood the entire Cowichan Valley and she told Stutsun that she could save him by drinking all the water on earth. Upon hEARing this, Stutsun laughed and wondered how such a small being could drink such a giANT body of water. Little ladybug was offended by Stutsun’s mockery and told him not to have a prejudice against her based on her tiny size. Upon seeing that Smuyqwa was offended, Stutsun remembered that Syalutsa taught him to respect and appreciate nature. So Stutsun listened to ladybug. She taught him a song to sing when the flood came and promised that upon hEARing this song, she would come to his rescue and drink all the floodwater. When the floodwater took over the Cowichan Valley, little ladybug fulfilled her promise. She drank and dRAINed the floodwater and saved the future of the Cowichan people by rescuing Syalutsa and Stutsun.

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Exhibition(s): Record, (Re)create: Contemporary Coast Salish Art from the Salish Weave Collection