EXAMPLES OF TRIBAL ROCK PAINTINGS
Reference:

Plate 19. Interior Salish and Kootenay.

Rock paintings are one of the earliest known forms of art,
not indeed confined to this area of Canada but dating back on
other continents many thousands of years. Crude they may be,
but full of interest and symbolic meaning to their artists and
in some cases skilfully realistic. Thus they possess historic
and intrinsic value while their simplicity of outline suggests
suitability for reproduction in certain lines of handicraft.
This "pictographic art" has recently been described as the pre-
liminary stage to writing, leading on through aecepted symbols
to alphabetic signs or letters which constitute one among other
foundation stones of modern civilization.

What are considered to be the earliest form of this pre-
historic art in this Province are pecked or cut into rock or
cliff surfaces, their outlines coloured red or black. These
"petroglyphs," or rock carvings, are not so numerous or wide-
spread as are the "pictographs" or rock paintings found through-
out the southern area of the Province among the tribes of
Interior Salish origin (Thompson, Lillooet, Okanagan) and the
Kootenay. They became less frequent among the Chilcotin, Car-
riers and Tahltans and are on the whole scarce anong the Coast
ienibest

Usually made in secret these rock paintings are found
chiefly in lonely or secluded places; on cliffs close to lakes
and streams near waterfalls; on the walls of canyons or with-—
in and around caves or on boulders near trails; that is to
Say in places where it was believed that the mysterious Forces
of Nature were in greater abundance and strength than else-
where. For it was their guardianship which was sought through
the agency of these paintings by youths during their prolonged
adolescent ceremonials, when they earnestly desired the reinforce-
ment by purification, fasting and vigils in preparation for the
responsibilities of manhood: or adults resorted to this method
for protective purposes, to ward off some disaster or to em-
phasize their appeals to these Spiritual Powers to ensure re-
inforcement to the strength previously bestowed, or to ensure
long life. It is also believed that certain of these paintings
recorded some unusual natural phenomenon or possibly possessed
monumental or historical significance.

The practice of making such paintings probably dates back
to times immemorial. Possibly some still visible were made one

STG