PKOLS Stories: An Ancient Story of Creation

The stories of PKOLS reach back to the beginning of time and hold deep meaning for the W̱SÁNEĆ people. One such story tells of the Creator, who stood at or near PKOLS and gathered stones from what is now known as Cordova Bay, called I’EL¸ILCE in SENĆOŦEN.

 

From this sacred place, the Creator cast the stones outward across the land. Where they fell, mountains rose, islands took shape, and the landscape of the Salish Sea was formed. These stones became the foundations of the world as the W̱SÁNEĆ people know it.

 

This ancient story speaks to an enduring relationship between the people and the land—one rooted in responsibility, memory, and spirit. PKOLS is not only a physical place, but a living reminder of creation itself, carrying a timeless sense of purpose that continues to guide W̱SÁNEĆ people today.

​

At STOLȻEȽ (Friday Harbor), place-based education is more than a classroom approach — it is a way of learning with the land, water, and stories that shape this place. Educators, knowledge-keepers, and community members come together to guide learners of all ages in experiences that connect them deeply to the cultural history, ecological systems, and ancestral relationships of STOLȻEȽ.

This work blends coastal ecology, Indigenous history, storytelling, language, and stewardship practices — so that students aren’t just learning about a place, they are learning from it. Through guided experiences on shorelines, in intertidal zones, around ancient trails, and in ceremonial contexts, learners explore how people and landscape have been connected here for millennia.

​