Is there an Oogo-poogo-like serpent in Cowichan Lake? Well, why not? There are probably many underwater caves and tunnels between here and Renfrew for such a creature to avoid too much publicity. Over the years there have been many sightings of a serpent-like creature cruising our waters. The first story is from the Kaatza Station Museum files.

‘The stin-qua, a large serpent is represented to be about 50 feet long, with a very large head, furious eyes and an enormous mouth and teeth. He is seen periodically swimming about the lake seeking whom he can devour. The following account given to me by Nitinat Charlie:

There was an Indian encampment near where the March’s now live. In the camp was a very old woman who cautioned the young women to beware of the Stin-qua. Next morning three young men and three women set out in a canoe for Bald Mountain across the Lake. The men were left on the mountain to hunt deer and the women were to return for them later. The women were returning to the camp when one of the maidens stoop up in the canoe and, waiving her paddle said that she was not afraid of the Stin-qua. Almost immediately it began to get dark, the wind roared and the Stin-qua rushed through the water and swallowed the canoe and all the women. The Stin-qua disappears from the lake by an underground passage down the West Coast.

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