Seelkee

Lore & Background

Seelkee has been allegedly seen by the Stó:lō people for hundreds of years. The most common description is a 10- to 15-foot-long sea serpent-like beast with the head of a horse. Descriptions often portray the creature as snake-like with two heads, and its coloration is mostly black with red circular designs. Some longhouses in local Stó:lō villages were defined by large house posts with Seelkee designs accented with red paint. One of the first Caucasian settlers of the region, Isaac Kipp, reportedly saw a Seelkee and related that he was told by the local Stó:lō people never to turn your back on the beast, saying 'Don't turn around, if you do you'll be sick.'

Reader's Guide

Seelkee holds significance as a traditional figure among the Stó:lō people, with its image incorporated into the architecture of longhouses, where large house posts featured Seelkee designs accented with red paint. The creature's lore includes a specific warning from the Stó:lō to early settler Isaac Kipp: never to turn one's back on the beast, as doing so would cause sickness. This warning underscores the creature's perceived power and danger in local belief. Seelkee is listed alongside other reported lake monsters such as Ogopogo, Igopogo, and Memphre, placing it within a broader context of North American lake monster folklore. Its legacy is preserved through oral tradition and the material culture of the Stó:lō, though the article provides no further details on modern interpretations or cultural revitalization efforts.

Did You Know?

• Seelkee is transcribed in English from Halqemeylem, the local indigenous language.
• The creature is often described as snake-like with two heads.
• Some Stó:lō longhouses had house posts with Seelkee designs accented with red paint.
• Isaac Kipp, an early Caucasian settler, was told by the Stó:lō never to turn his back on Seelkee.