Walking Tour
Petroglyph Park
Marks of the Ancients
Presented by Dave Bodaly
Petroglyph Park is a place of power and mystery. For many thousands of years the Snuneymuxw have known it as such, and some of their oldest stories relate to this place. In this tour the elder and knowledge-keeper Dave Bodaly will take you on a walk through the small park, and show you the remarkable petroglyphs that were carved into the sandstone here thousands of years ago. Along the way he'll also teach you some of the Snuneymuxw's ancient knowledge of the plants and animals you might come across in the park.
Tour Route
You can access the park from the parking lot beside the highway, and walk up the short entrance trail until you reach a series of informational boards at your left. The tour starts here and continues from there up the paved trail, to the petroglyphs which are behind a small fence. From there you can continue on the less well developed trail which veers left after the fence and do a short loop around the park until you reach a fork in the trail. Turn right and from there you can go to the edge of the park where you'll get a fantastic view of the waters around Nanaimo, with Gabriola Island directly opposite.
Please be respectful of this sacred place and do not disturb the petroglyphs.
This project is possible with the generous support of the Nanaimo Hospitality Association and the Petroglyph Development Group of the Snuneymuxw First Nation. We would also like to thank the Nanaimo Archives and Nanaimo Museum for use of their historic photo collections and providing research assistance.
1. A Sacred Place
Dave welcomes us to Petroglyph Park, a place that has been sacred to the Snuneymuxw people for over 4,000 years.
2. Energy in All Things
When you are in Petroglyph Park, stop and contemplate the atmosphere of this ancient place, and the lingering energy of all those Snuneymuxw who have come here for thousands of years. If you ever find an arrowhead on the ground, you shouldn't pick it up. As Dave explains, the Snuneymuxw believe that a part of your energies are imparted into everything you create. If you pick up the arrowhead, you don't know whose energies you may be receiving.
3. The Story of Tha'wun
Petroglyph Park is one of the most sacred sites for the Snuneymuxw. Dave shares one of the oldest stories of the Snuneymuxw, that tells of how these ancient petroglyphs came to be. One day many thousands of years ago Tha'wun, a boastful seer who lived on this hill, received word that the transformer Xeels was coming, and he prepared to meet him…
4. The Leopard Slug
You might come across a Leopard Slug while walking through Petroglyph Park. Dave tells us how the Snuneymuxw use them to treat sores and bites.
5. The Rattlesnake Plantain
The rattlesnake plantain that grows in Petroglpyh Park has great significance to the Snuneymuxw. Dave tells the story of how it helped one man survive his ordeal in the wilderness.
6. The Oregon Grape
Keep an eye out for Oregon Grapes, source of purple and blue pigments the Snuneymuxw painted their ceremonial masks with. Even today Dave uses the grape to dye his woven cedar hats.
7. Beware the Daphne
Beware this plant when exploring the woods. Daphne is an invasive plant that, if broken, can cause lingering stinging and burning.
8. Holly Bush
Holly is another invasive species in this region, though the robins subsist on the berries in the winter.
9. Ocean Spray
The wood from ocean spray, or ironwood, has properties that make it ideal for smoking salmon.
10. The Camas Trade
The edge of the bluff here at Petroglyph Park gives us an amazing view of the channel between Vancouver Island and Gabriola Island in front of you. As the highest spot in this area, this was a lookout point for the Snuneymuxw, who could spot approaching canoes from a great distance. Many of them would have been traders coming from as far afield as California, perhaps coming to trade for camas.
11. First Contact
In the 1790s, strange ships that looked nothing like canoes were first spotted coming to Snuneymuxw territory. The Spanish were the first Europeans to explore this region, and their ships anchored just off Gabriola Island right in front of you. Perhaps some Snuneymuxw stood where you are standing now, and wondered who these strange visitors were. The Spanish were met by one of the Tsuluquin chiefs of Gabriola Island. After a peaceful exchange, the chief stood for a remarkable portrait by a Spanish artist. It was the first depiction of a Snuneymuxw to be seen outside of the Pacific Northwest.
