Signs of the Time: Nle?kepmx Resistance through Rock Art

Rock art in Nłeʔkepmx territory is a form of communication between the spirit and physical worlds, information for later generations, and powerful protection against challenges to a people, land, and culture. It has been used to forestall threats from the sixteenth century through the twentieth century and remains a signature of resilience.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 01 July 2024
Publisher: University of British Columbia Press

Rock art, etched in blood-red lines into granite cliffs, boulders, and caves, appears as a captivating and enigmatic form of abstraction. These signs, known as petroglyphs and red-ochre pictographs, hold deep historical and cultural significance. "Signs of the Time" delves into the reasons behind the creation of rock art, drawing on extensive research and decades of collaboration with the Nłeʔkepmx people. Through a blend of Western records and Indigenous oral histories and traditions, Chris Arnett unveils the variability and similarity of practices associated with rock art. It serves as a means of communication between the spiritual and physical realms, preserving information for future generations, and providing formidable protection against challenges to a people, their land, and their culture. For over six centuries, the Nłeʔkepmx have employed these cultural strategies to safeguard their way of life from various threats, from the sixteenth century to the twentieth. As this remarkable work demonstrates, rock art remains a testament to resilience.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780774867962