p’uq’ shq’utuw’ulh ni’ ’utl’ s’amunu | White Bridge at Somenos

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• Title: p’uq’ shq’utuw’ulh ni’ ’utl’ s’amunu | White Bridge at Somenos
• Modern Image Description: This is the white bridge over the Cowichan River, just off of Somena Village. It has become a popular swimming spot over the years, has been tagged with graffiti, and is recognized and owned as Cowichan Territory.

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hwuhwilmuhw knowledge

• Speaker/Story Teller: Pul-hwuletse’ | Wayne Charlie
• Date of recording: 28 Apr, 2026
• Listen to the recording in Hul’q’umi’num’:

shq’utuw’ulh ni’ ’utl’ s’amuna’ | Bridge at Somena Village

1. shq’utuw’ulh ni’ ’utl’ s’amuna’ hun’utum’ ’u kwthu p’uq’ shq’utuw’ulh.
   This is white bridge at Somena village.
2. nilh yuhw thuytum kwthu shq’utuw’ulh nuts’a’ tousun toohw nets’uwets ’i’ ’apun sil’anum kwus yu thuytum tun’a shq’utuw’ulh.
   This bridge was built in 1910.
3. tthu s’eluhw shq’utuw’ulh niihw hikw’ tthu sta’luw’ sisuw’ qul’qul’il’tum’ ’u tthu stuq nilh shus ’uye’qtum.
   The old wooden bridge when the river flooded was destroyed by a log jam and it was replaced.
4. shq’utuw’ulh ni’ hakwushus tthu ts’lhhwulmuhw nuw’ ni’ tthu siiye’yu tst ni’ shnaa’thut tthi stal’uw’ tun’i ’utl’ s’amuna’.
   The bridge was built to cross the river and it connects the Somena people.
5. tun’a skweyul ’uw’ qux stseelhtun ni’ hwiwul tthu quw’utsun’ sta’luw’.
   Today there are lots of salmon that come up the Cowichan River. 
6. nan ’uw’ sheshum’ tthu qa’ ni’ ’u tthu shq’utuw’ulh, p’uq’ shq’utuw’ulh ’uwu te’ yu hunum’ kwus yu tsetsul’ullhtun’.
   Because the river is too shallow at the White Bridge, we don’t come fish here.
7. ni’ tl’uw’ ni’stum tthu ni’ xut’ustum’ fish counter ’i’ tuw’ tl’itl’up ’u kwthey’ shq’utuw’ulh.
   There is a fish counter below the bridge.
8. ’u kwus wulh tum’kw’e’lus ’i’ nilh shhwunum’s tthu smuneem’ ’i’ q’apthut ni’ ’u tthu sta’luw’
   In the summertime, the youth gather here at the Cowichan River (to swim).
9. nuw’ sxuxil’stum’ tthu smuneem’ tst ni’ tthu shq’utuw’ulh swe’s syaaysth tthu stl’ul’iqulh.
   Our youth today draw their art on the walls under the bridge. 
10. tthu shq’utuw’ulh ’uw’ ni’ kwthu lhihw shq’utuw’ulh  ’i ’utl’ tthu quw’utsun’ ’i’ nilh kwthu p’uq’ shq’utuw’ulh  nilh nuts’a’.
    This is one of the three bridges here at quw’utsun’.

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Key information

• Time period or Date: 2026
• Theme(s): Rivers and Lakes, Villages,
• Location: Cowichan River near Somena
• Source info (type – name): Personal — Personal Collection
• Photographer credit: Dylan George-James
• Individuals identified: Kwustunaat | Roberta V. Charlie

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