Today, Cowichan Tribes and the Government of Canada commemorated the national historic significance of the Coast Salish Knitters and the Cowichan Sweater with a special ceremony to unveil a plaque on Quw'utsun Territory in Duncan, British Columbia. The event honoured generations of Salish fibre knowledge, including wool preparation, spinning, and knitting, that led to the creation of the Cowichan sweater in the late 19th century and continues to be carried forward today.
The plaque was installed on a custom metal stand featuring artwork by Coast Salish artist Stuart Pagaduan, based on a concept by Cowichan Tribes Specific Claims Researcher Johnny Crocker. The artwork depicts a Cowichan sweater and the woolly dog that once provided fibre, symbolizing the First Nation's enduring textile traditions. The installation was also made possible through the support of the City of Duncan, which welcomed the placement of the plaque in Charles Hoey V.C. Memorial Park.
Rooted in the homelands of Cowichan Tribes on southern Vancouver Island and around the Salish Sea, the Cowichan sweater reflects cultural resilience, continuity, and innovation. For generations, Cowichan families have prepared wool, spun yarn, and hand‑knit garments-passing skills, teachings, and designs from one artist to the next. Elders and Knowledge Keepers worked closely with Cowichan Tribes and Parks Canada to ensure the plaque reflected community knowledge and included the Hul'q'umi'num' language, alongside English and French.
Parks Canada is committed to working collaboratively with Indigenous Peoples and honouring their contributions to our shared heritage, history, and future. This joint announcement affirms the Cowichan sweater as a powerful expression of Indigenous innovation and cultural continuity and underscores the partners' commitment to sharing Indigenous histories at the heart of Canada's national story.
