This cache is available 24/7 - can be appreciated best by daylight, but can be seen at any time. Unfortunately, parking at Stanford is limited, and the best time to visit is during the weekend when permit restrictions don't apply and all parking is free. Otherwise, parking closest to Boo-Qwilla is at the oval (end of Palm Dr), but permit only from 6 AM to 6 PM weekdays. Closest to Stanford Legacy, the Wilbur Field Garage (off Campus Dr.) is also free all weekend, but has paid options on other days (about $2.50-$4) accessed via a phone app. This cache is ideal for visiting by bike at any time.
My interest in Northwest Coast Art goes back many years, to my first visit to Vancouver Island, BC, where I had the chance to see a number of art objects and especially totem poles. It was fascinating to me that these objects of power and reverence could be found outside of museums, in fact sometimes happened upon along the road driving around Vancouver Island and other locations in British Columbia and northern Washington.
Totem poles have an important purpose in First Nation and Native American culture. The carved human faces and animals are a visual representation of the history, culture, beliefs and strengths of ancestral beings. Some poles trace the lineage of a family or clan.
Stanford University's land acknowledgement recognizes that the campus is located within the ancestral territory of the Muwekma Ohlone Tribe, so this is an unlikely spot to find two totem poles created by Northwest native carvers, both gifted to the University. The two poles are both carved in traditional styles, but are different enough that each deserves a visit.
Boo-Qwilla is the first stop on this tour. I've been fascinated by this totem pole and its remarkable imagery on many visits to the campus over the years. It's located in a small clearing near the Stanford Oval and the Art Gallery. This pole was carved of Western Red Cedar, a wood traditionally used in Northwest poles. It's about 21.5 feet tall and painted with black, green and red latex paint. Boo-Qwilla was carved by Art Thompson (1948-2003) of the Ditidaht Tribe of Vancouver Island, Canada. He was assisted by John Livingston. This artwork was a gift to Stanford students from two alumni in 1995. According to the plaque explaining the sculpture, on this Nuu-chah-nulth [the culture this pole represents] pole, " Thunderbird, with wings outstretched, towers overhead. He perches on top of Raven, the creator of Earth, Light, and Consciousness. Raven's wings encompass the headdress of Boo-Qwilla, a person of knowledge, wisdom, and achievement. Legend affirms this ancestral human is Raven's most prized creation who is charged with the safekeeping of knowledge and the preservation of the earth. At the base, a supernatural Killerwhale transforms into a Wolf. This creature possesses magical healing powers which aid humankind."
Take some time to enjoy the marvelous imagery of this pole before moving to an optional second stop: another traditional-style totem pole, located about 0.5 miles' walk away, in front of the Law School building.
OPTIONAL SECOND STOP: The Stanford Legacy, 2002 was carved by Don Yeomans (b. 1958), of Prince Rupert, British Columbia, Canada. For those who enjoy Northwest Native art, this is a different type of totem pole entirely, and worth a visit. It's a long walk, so if you go, it might be worth trying on a weekend when you can actually get pretty close by car. Also a gift to the University, it was carved from a 400 year old Western Red Cedar log and decorated with pigments. This pole, about 52.5 ft. tall, is representative of the carvings of the Native American Haida people, which commemorate and honor families and their history. This pole is dedicated to the Stanford family. Among the figures seen here are a chief holding a copper shield, while a bear below holds a half human figure representing "the unfulfilled". Also note the weeping woman above, Mrs. Stanford, grieving the loss of her son. Look carefully and see carvings of children climbing up her tears. Raven, the creator spirit appears again in this pole, here sharing one tongue (representing knowledge/creation) with a supernatural frog. The child at the top with angel wings represents the boy whose death inspired the founding of the University.
To log this cache, please send the following answers to the CO and please don't include them in your log: 1) On the Boo-Qwilla pole, how many pairs of eyes are looking at you from the back of the pole? and 2) what is the family name of the donors of the pole?
I hope you enjoy seeing these great examples of Northwest Native art, hardly ever seen in the Bay Area. If you wish, post a selfie with one of the poles!
Further reading- learn more about totem poles, their creation and symbolism:
Malin, Edward: Totem Poles of the Pacific Northwest Coast, Timber Press, 1994.
Halpin, Marjorie M: Totem Poles: An Illustrated Guide, University of British Columbia Press, 1981.
Congratulations to tiptop3 for FTF and nozy nabor for STF!
Virtual Rewards 3.0 - 2022-2023
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between March 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 3.0 on the Geocaching Blog.