In Canadian folklore, Seelkee (transcribed in English from Halqemeylem, the local indigenous language) is a lake monster reported to have lived in the swamps of what is now Chilliwack, in British Columbia, Canada. Seelkee has been allegedly seen by the Stó:lō, First Nations, people for hundreds of years. The most common description of Seelkee is a 10 to 15-foot-long (3.0 to 4.6 m) sea serpent like beast with the head of a horse.[3]
| Sub grouping | Lake monster |
|---|---|
| Other name(s) | Seelkee, S’í:lhqey, Si'xqe, Shla- lah-kum, Su'ike, Ts'ewalf[1][2] |
| Country | Canada |
| Region | Chilliwack, British Columbia |
| Habitat | Water |
Most descriptions talk about how the creature was snake-like with two heads. Mostly black the serpent had red circular designs. The primary summer shelters for the Stó:lō people was in the form of a longhouse. Although some modern longhouses were built with gabled roofs, most Stó:lō longhouses were built with a single flat, but slanted roof, similar to the Xá:ytem Longhouse.[4] Entire extended families would live in a longhouse, and the structure could be extended as the family expanded. Some of the longhouses in the local Stó:lō villages were defined by large house posts with Seelkee designs accented with red paint.[5]
One of the first Caucasian settlers of the region, Issac Kipp, reportly saw a Seelkee and spoke how he was told by the local Sto:lo people never to turn your back on the beast.[6][5] Saying "Don't turn around, if you do you'll be sick."[7]
See also
edit- Igopogo, said to live in Lake Simcoe, Ontario
- Loch Ness Monster
- Ogopogo, said to live in Okanagan Lake, BC
- Memphre, said to live in Lake Memphremagog, Quebec
- List of reported lake monsters
- Selkie, a similar named creature
Bibliography
editNotes
- ^ Eberhart 2002, p. 507
- ^ Wells et al. 1987, p. 222
- ^ Wells et al. 1987, p. 121
- ^ Carlson & McHalsie 2001
- ^ a b Wells 1970, pp. 25–32
- ^ Wells et al. 1987, p. 157
- ^ Wells 1970, p. 30
References
- Carlson, Keith; McHalsie, Albert Jules (2001). A Stó:lō-Coast Salish Historical Atlas. Vancouver, Seattle, Chilliwack: Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 9781550548129. OCLC 44940929. - Total pages: 208
- Eberhart, George M. (2002). Mysterious Creatures: N-Z. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781576072837. - Total pages: 722
- Wells, Oliver N.; Maud, Ralph; Galloway, Brent Douglas; Weeden, Marie (1987). The Chilliwacks and Their Neighbors. Vancouver: Talonbooks. ISBN 9780889222557. OCLC 18907171. - Total pages: 226
- Wells, Oliver (1970). Myths and Legends: STAW-loh Indians of South Western British Columbia. Mrs. R. P. Weeden. - Total pages: 42
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