For forty years, our family has shopped at a unique store in North Vancouver, British Columbia, but this trip was the most fun. Khot-La-Cha Gift Shop is on the Squamish Nation’s Capilano Reserve, 1/4 mile from Lions Gate bridge. The store’s view of the North Shore Mountains is photo
worthy!
This time, I was joyously welcomed by Tippy, a two-year-old rescue saved from a Los Angeles kill-shelter, by a Canadian rescue organization, (Thank Dog I am Out) for a second chance at life. http://ThankDogIamOut.com/
How could I refuse doing an article on a dog named Tippy? He is the first Tippy, in nine years of writing this column, that I have met. This column is about pet tips and tales and Tippy has both! Plus!
She at the end of her black tail she has a pretty white TIP - the signature of her name!
Khot-La-Cha sells traditional, hand crafted Aboriginal/Native American wood carvings, moccasins, artwork, jewelry, baskets and bead work designed by band members.
This visit, it was hard to focus on the store’s wares as their friendly mascot, Tippy, demanded attention. That is until she felt her duty was over and she returned to rest on a stool
for a better view of customers.
“Tippy is my grandmother’s, Nancy Nightingale, dog,” said Tippy’s auntie Lynnea. “She was painfully timid when Grandma adopted her, but she immediately attached herself to Grandma, and her devotion is heartwarming. It is amazing to see how shy Tippy has blossomed. We don’t know the dog’s previous tale of hardship, but it was like watching a miracle unfold as she opened her heart and became the most loving dog I have
known.
Our store was named after my great-grandfather Chief Khot La Cha and it has been in the family for generations. His name means man with a “Kind Heart” in our Squamish language. As a youth, he survived a cruel-residential school. Despite this he grew into a loving and great man and teacher. He became an Ambassador of Canada traveling the world enlightening others about Aboriginal life. We have historical photos of him on his journeys wearing a
traditional eagle feather regalia head dress, while drumming and dancing. He was a man of two hats!
Because tourists think that all Natives wear the eagle feather head dress, he compromised and wore one. But with our West Coast rainy conditions, our tribal chiefs historically wear conical shaped, woven, red cedar hats.
Grandmother’s grandmother, Mary Capilano, was known as the “Indian Princess of Peace”. Her intricate basket art is
famous. Great Grandma Mary traveled by canoe, up and down British Columbia, to trade in the late 19th century.
Her name ‘Capilano’ is familiar to tourists visiting North Vancouver and its world famous swinging Capilano River bridge. Our store, two miles south of the swinging bridge, is an avenue for aboriginal members to express and keep the First Nation’s culture alive through crafts.
The store’s beginning was
spontaneously. When my great grandfather was Ambassador his many visitors wanted Native art work. So his wife bought and sold carvings etc. from tribal members and as they say the rest is history! Today, we export many items to the United States, Asia and European countries.
Tippy’s name suits her because she is incredibly clumsy! Anyone can fall downstairs. But, have you ever heard of falling UP stairs? The crazy thing is that Tippy’s tumbles don’t seem to
bother her, but I see a chiropractor in her future!
Grandma also has a rescue cat, Tippy’s BIG brother, Madison. You would think Madison is a female, but he is male – and he is not only bigger than Tippy, he far outweighs her. The two animals have to share grandma’s attention. You will find Grandma sitting on her couch with a dog on one side and the cat vying for her attention on the other.
When Grandma first adopted
Tippy the dog showed an interest in teething on our store’s comfy-handmade rabbit and sheep skin moccasins. Tippy purr-furred the slipper’s fluffy rabbit fur. We quickly had to train her not to chew the slippers. But sadly my grandmother’s moccasins, at home, did not survive!”
“Actually it was Lynnea who wanted a dog,” laughs Nancy, “but she can not have one, so she encouraged me to adopt one.
My mother, who turns 100
years-old this year, always had a little “guard” dog mascot at the store. Customers who have been coming here since their youth, who are now parents, are bringing in their children and they recall tales on Barney or another of the succession of Mum’s dogs. So, I thought, time for another mascot.
One of mother’s dogs always sat on a stool and it is intriguing that Tippy likes to do it too. We are ordering Tippy a t-shirt with our whale logo that is
painted on our store for his office uniform.
Tippy is the funniest little dog. When she is happy, her ears flip up and her tail twirls like a propeller. Pets adds warmth, love and humor to our homes and places of employment.”
