An artist from each Nation has contributed an original salmon design to the unified logo for Bringing the Salmon Home: The Columbia River Salmon Reintroduction Initiative. The ‘spirit of the water’ carries and protects the salmon throughout their journey.
DARCY LUKE, KTUNAXA NATION
Darcy Luke is a Ktunaxa artist. The Ktunaxa people centre around the headwaters of the Columbia River in what is now known as the East Kootenay region of British Columbia, Canada.
“I am a Ktunaxa woman from the community of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʔit (tobacco plains), although I live in ʔa·kisk̓aqⱡiʔit (Cranbrook B.C.) I am a self-taught artist, specializing in beadwork and digital art, but I also have a range of other mediums such as painting, mural design and more. I currently work for the Ktunaxa Nation Council in the Traditional Knowledge and Language Sector in the TKL Project Officer role. In this role I mainly work with the Elders, but I also work on other projects going on within the sector and in doing that I get to use my creativity and do art for a lot of our projects.”
Darcy created a chinook salmon whose design symbolizes the life-giving generational legacy of the salmon.
KELSEY JULES, SECWÉPEMC NATION
Kelsey Jules is a Secwépemc and Syilx artist, model, and teacher. She is a member of Tk’emlups te Secwepemc.
“I have a love for creating illustrations and for the arts. I attended Thompson Rivers University for the Bachelor of Fine Arts. Creativity comes in all forms. I began modelling for Fashion Speaks International, an agency that focuses on Indigenous models and designers to create awareness for missing and murdered indigenous women/people. The agency helps to boost careers and create a supportive community. Being surrounded by international Indigenous designers has opened my mind to even more potential creative ideas.
“I am currently an Aboriginal Education Worker for School District 73. I am very lucky to help students with their academic needs. I have been teaching all students the Secwépemc language, culture and art. I strongly encourage my students to continue any creative outlets they might have and I love teaching them new techniques that they can try.”
Kelsey’s sockeye salmon design embodies the vital relationship between salmon, land and water, literally carrying and communicating this relationship wherever the salmon go.
TUNKA CIKALA, SYILX OKANAGAN NATION
Tunka Cikala (Spirit Peoples) is a member of the Sinixt and Nespelem bands of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. A fascination with art since childhood helped guide Spirit into a degree in Graphic Design. His artistic interests traverse numerous mediums that include carving, drawing, painting, graphic design, beading, basket weaving and other various traditional art forms. He stands devoted to being a protector of his culture and history by learning how to gather materials and working them into their ancestral implements. His current undertaking is the ancestral recovery and preservation of construction processes related to hunting and fishing tools (including Bighorn Sheep Horn Bow, Dip Nets and Fish Spears).
The Syilx Okanagan captíkwł How Food Was Given relates how the Four Food Chiefs – Chief Skəmixst (Black Bear), Chief N’titxw (Chinook Salmon), Chief Spʼiƛ̕əm (Bitter Root), and Chief Siyaʔ (Saskatoon Berry), met the needs of the “People To Be” for survival.
Spirit’s chinook salmon design is inspired by Syilx captíkwł teachings, illustrating the inseparable connections between salmon and culture. Here, Sen’k’lip (Coyote) with his Eagle staff brings salmon up the river to the people. Bear paw prints represent Skəmixst as well as the spots on the back of chinook salmon.
