The Hidden Story Behind Vancouver's Twin Peaks

The Lions are two of the most famous mountain peaks in Canada. But they have a much, much older name that's tied to a story from long before the city was founded.

French subtitles by: Murielle Cayouette (thank you so much!)

Read the full story of “The Two Sisters” as told to Pauline Johnson by Joe Capilano here:

This episode, maybe even more than any other we’ve done so far, relied on collaboration beyond our little team.

We want to thank Stefany Mathias so much for reading the passage from “The Two Sisters”. As we mention in the episode, she’s the great-granddaughter of Joe and Mary Capilano and one of sixteen hereditary chiefs of the Squamish Nation. She’s also an actor who you might know from shows like DaVinci’s Inquest and Longmire. It’s a dream come true to have her read that passage. You can follow her…

Johnson loved Vancouver’s natural surroundings, and spent long hours exploring the city’s waters in her canoe. She even did a little renaming of her own while she was there: coming up with a new moniker for a little tidal bay that has been turned into a permanent lake in Stanley Park. The Squamish called it Ch'ekxwa'7lech; the settlers called it Coal Harbour; Johnson wrote a poem about it called “The Lost Lagoon” and that’s still the name it’s known by today.

Fun fact: Johnson was the very first Canadian woman to appear on a stamp. And just a few years ago, she was one of the five women picked as finalists when the government was deciding who to feature on the new $10 bill. (They eventually picked Viola Desmond, who might be in your wallet right now.)

*Correction: the photo shown at 4:40 is of the Kwakwakaʼwakw of Northern Vancouver Island/mainland area. We regret the mistake and aim to avoid similar ones at all costs in the future.

[Canadiana]

Check out the description for some great resources related to the episode and extra trivia. Thanks for watching!

[timberwolfdtproductions]

Excellent piece, I’m very impressed. As a 59 year old caucasian who was born and raised in and around Vancouver, I have been robbed of exposure to so much of the history, culture, and knowledge of this place. People who lived in harmony with this environment for many thousands of years before my ancestors arrived had so much wisdom to share that was lost. I have “discovered” some very special places of such raw natural power and significance that I instantly and instinctively recognize them as deeply sacred, just as the first people who discovered them so long ago did. My favourite sacred place is barely hidden from a major highway, yet it appears on no official maps, there is no signpost or plaque to commemorate it, it is afforded no cultural status or protection; yet sitting there in silence, the power and presence of the place is so overwhelming and visceral no one could fail to recognize it. On one of my visits I overheard an instructor from a First Nation college relating the oral history and legends of the place. It was fascinating, moving, and added perspective to why it feels so sacred to me. I was grateful for the experience, but envious and angry that I was never taught about it. I vaguely recall hearing about Pauline Johnson, but I’ve never heard of her book, Legends of Vancouver. I really look forward to reading it.

[TheJttv]

Most under appreciated channel on YouTube

[djzadventures]

Wow! Absolutely incredible video. Well done! This should be shown in every school.

[lgeodes]

My 10 year old daughter came home from school and told me the story of the twin sisters. It confused me a bit since I always new those peaks as the lion's. Thank you for sharing the history of the land we call home, I learnt so much from this one episode compared to my time as a student and at a teacher in the lower mainland. You guys have earned yourself a new subscriber

[medicaintegrae]

A clear example that history is not always pleasant and fair, but thanks for your great effort and work, this incredibly interesting story is not taught in schools, o even more to newcomers. You and your team, deserve a special place in Canadian modern history for telling this to the world and new generations. Respect for you, no country can develop in the future if they do not have a look to their past.

[paulineyrjola]

Thank you so much for doing this video that included Pauline Johnson as well. Not too many people speak of Pauline Johnson so much anymore. My parents immigrated to Canada in the 50s from Finland. Eventually they traveled from Port Arthur, Ontario (now known as Thunderbay, Ontario) to Vancouver, British Columbia. My father wanted to become a logger & so he did. He became one of the B.C. first helicopter loggers and was featured in a newspaper article on the vary subject. My mother absolutely fell in love with Pauline Johnson poetry. So once I was born & born in Vancouver BC, where my mother was first introduced to Pauline Johnson poetry. There was no question about it I had to be named after Pauline Johnson. My mother often told me that's where my name came from. Plus my other name Beatrice came from back then Princess Beatrice of Denmark was born here. The Queen of Denmark was pregnant with Princess Beatrice when she came to BC for a royal visit. She ended up going into labour while on her royal visit to BC. The doctore who attended to Princess Beatrice birth was the father to the doctor that attended my birth. Therefore my other name became Beatrice. A Canadian born Princess from Denmark. My mother told me when Princess Beatrice was to be married she had to apply for her birth certificate from Canada because she was actually born here not in Denmark. My mother would also tell me that the reason Ottawa has Tulips every year from Holland. Is in gratitude for the care the Queen of Denmark recieved while she was on her royal visit to BC pregnant with Princess Beatrice. Of which she ended up gaving birth during that same royal visit. Her care was so outstanding that Canada will forever receive Tulips from Holland in gratitude for the gracious, kind and caring she received while under medical care from the birth of Princess Beatrice back then. Of course since then Princess Beatrice became Queen Beatrice in time. I am the only child of my parents born in Vancouver BC so my names had to come from Vancouver, BC Canadian history. As to what my mother understood was that history of these two people. Again thank you for making this video. I can now share with my children so they can hear that I am not making this up. There honestly was a person named Pauline Johnson there wrote poetry that my mother named me from. I no longer live in BC but have many times walked the sea wall by that ever rock you featured in this video. I always walked a little extra prouder by it knowning I was named after a first nations person this rock had a connection to. So now I can share that history alone with my children too. Again thank you ever so kindly for this video & it will be shared with my children to prove the stories I have told them about my name Pauline is truth and in a very small apart of our Canadian history as well.

[karmakoma]

The Two Sisters sound more natural and peaceful. Two Lions sounds like what someone rich would name the gates to their property.

[aboyisnoone]

wow i grew up in the lower mainland, im disgusted i wasnt taught this history. now it makes sense why people like my grandpa that know a lot of native history say twin sisters instead of lions. hmm interesting

[conniesanderson]

I was brought up to call it the sisters, it wasn’t until I was older that I heard the name the 2 lions. My dad made sure that I learned the history of bc.

[flowrider]

I’m a first timer to you channel. Your delivery of Canadian history is amazing! I’ve joined your channel for more. Thank you. ❤️🇨🇦

[kathleenlovett]

Thank you very much for this journey home. I was born in Vancouver in 1958. We lived on Mountroyal Blvd, close to the Capilano River and canyon, and just up the street from Cleveland dam. I remember that there was one house behind ours, and nothing else beyond that, on Grouse Mountain. To me, North Vancouver is still the most beautiful place on earth ❣️

[avrilwhitney]

This video was so well done. To me it struck just the right tone of reverent, informative, and reprimanding. I would go so far as to say that videos like this offer a pathway of healing, a spark of much needed awareness in the process of reconciliation. I feel repeatedly humbled to discover what was lost in the colonization of Canada, embarrassed to be descended from white oblivious settlers. My spirit feels uplifted to learn about this history, the people, the stories. I live near these mountains and will appreciate them in a whole new way. Thank you, Canadiana team.

[magentapyramid]

This video swells my pride to be Canadian and reside in North Vancouver, one of the most beautiful places on Earth. The history is fascinating, the scenery gorgeous and the First Nations art incredible. This is my home -

[mikesax]

Thank you for your good work. I lived for over 20 years in Vancouver. I'm a proud canadian.
Vancouver and BC hold a very special place in my heart.

[Vivypips]

Genuinely surprised that this isn't part of BC school curriculum. This is pretty important history of our province.

[bridgete]

ive lived in vancouver lower mainland my whole life, and I did not know of the story of twin sisters. thank you for making this video and bringing this story to light

[llamabuddiestlye]

These make me so happy, I always share them with my friends and Anthropology professors ! Never stop being awesome

[morningstarkeke]

Great video. Thank you for sharing. I, as a young adopted Aboriginal girl from Vancouver used to love buying books on our country's history for my grandfather. History books that told the story of our country from explorers from the "new Vancouver". I honestly thought that it was true until my grandfather told me that the books were written wrong. My grandfather was a man who came from Germany, was a judge advocate general when he was younger, was in the Reform party (which was changed to the Conservative party?) and was quite frankly racist. I was inquisitive, smart, stubborn, an avid listener who changed the way he thought. I loved his time as a JAG and wanted stories until he had to repeat himself all over again and he eventually started to tell me about Vancouver, the one not in books. I grew up without knowing who I was, where I really came from and my people were known for and he would call everyone he knew so that I could learn everything I could about my background...which he learned from too.
I kind of forgot what it was like to hear awesome stories and to research until you were far from where you started because it was exciting...now I have a story for my boy and baby girl at bedtime tonight!

[amandaf]

Glad I've stumbled upon your channel, Love the videos so far! This one was really touching. Beautiful work friend, keep telling the stories!