Ko-kwal-alwoot was a beautiful Samish Indian girl living in a village at this site. She was gathering seafood one day when a young man from beneath the sea saw her and fell in love. But when the man from beneath the sea asked her father for her hand in marriage, he refused, for fear she would drown. The young man warned Ko-kwal-alwoot's father that the seafood would disappear unless she married him. When his warning proved to be true, Ko-kwal-alwoot's father granted permission for the marriage. The beautiful woman waded into the sea to join her new husband. Once again the seafood returned and was plentiful.
Ko-kwal-alwoot returned to her people once a year for four years. Barnacles had grown upon her hands and arms, and her long raven hair turned to kelp. Chill winds followed wherever she walked, and she seemed to be unhappy out of the sae. Seeing this, Ko-kwal-alwoot's people told her she did not need to return to them. Since that day, she has been the Samish Tribe's guiding spirit, and through her protection there has always been plenty of seafood and pure sweet springwater.
This 23-foot story pole was carved from Red Cedar by ... Powell of Anacortes. The pole was a joint concept of the Samish Tribe and the Skagit County Centennial Commission. It was dedicated in a colourful, spirit filled ceremony on September 24th, 1983.