Seeing Redd

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Media: Giclée

Year: 2015

Edition I: 1 - 135/135 s/n

Edition II: 1 - 95/95 s/n

Edition III: 1 - 65/65 s/n

Seeing Redd

The young daughter of a powerful chief awoke from a dream crying inconsolably for what she had seen: a great, shining, leaping fish. The chief sought counsel from the wisest Shaman, who said ‘We have many fish in our Inlet, but none like that. Raven, who lives among the Cedars might know.’

‘What she asks for is Chíin—Salmon. In this moon, they swim at the mouth of a mighty river, far away. I will bring one to your village’ said Raven as he flew swiftly away. Diving the instant his keen eyes saw many Salmon, he caught, by chance, the son of the Salmon Chief and swiftly returned. The Salmon rapidly pursued, but soon fell behind.

Raven placed the great gleaming fish before the beaming daughter of the chief. Then he advised the Shaman, ‘Many Salmon will try to rescue this young Salmon. You must weave a huge net to catch all the fish.’ Which they did, but out of respect many were spared, and these swam off to continue their futile search of the forest streams. Grieving, they spawned in the shallows beneath the sheltering arms of Ts’úu~Cedar Tree.

Year after year the next generation continues the search and the people are thankful for their return. This is how Raven came to bring Salmon to Human Beings. They continued to catch only what they needed to feed the village, and the Salmon are honoured by the care with which they are prepared—allowing the complete fish skeleton to be placed back in the water with the belief that their Spirit would rise again and regenerate, ensuring this cycle of life for future generations. A male Sgwaagang—Sockeye is ‘Seeing Redd’, as he defends the female preparing to lay her eggs.