Seelkee

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]

Not to be confused with Selkie.
Seelkee
Sub groupingLake monster
Other name(s)Seelkee, Sflhqey, Si'xqe, Shla- lah-kum, Su'ike, Ts'ewalf[1][2]
CountryCanada
RegionChilliwack, British Columbia

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

Bibliography

Notes

  1. Eberhart 2002, p. 507
  2. Wells 1987, p. 222
  3. Wells 1987, p. 121
  4. Carlson 2001
  5. Wells 1970, pp. 25–32
  6. Wells 1987, p. 157
  7. Wells 1970, p. 30

References

  • Carlson, Keith, Albert Jules McHalsie, Kate Blomfield (2001). A Stó:lō Coast Salish Historical Atlas. Douglas & McIntyre. ISBN 9781550548129. - Total pages: 208
  • Eberhart, George M. (2002). Mysterious Creatures: N-Z. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 9781576072837. - Total pages: 722
  • Wells, Oliver & Editors:Ralph Maud, Brent Douglas Galloway, Marie Weeden (1987). The Chilliwacks and Their Neighbors. Talonbooks. ISBN 9780889222557. - 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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