Golden Spruce

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Media: Giclée

Year: 2008

Edition I: 1 - 105 s/n

Edition II: 1 - 105 s/n

Edition III: 1 - 95/95 s/n

Golden Spruce

The story of K'iid K'iyaas (Ancient Tree) begins in a Haida village, deep in the valley created by the Yakoun River which was known as the River of Life. Well provided for by the river’s bounty, the people became arrogant and began to fight amongst themselves. 

This disrespect for these gifts brought a time of unrelenting snow, which piled higher and higher. Unable to replenish their winter stores and firewood, the villagers began to die of starvation and cold. Only two survived, an old man and his grandson. In desperation the boy dug upwards through the snow and his grandfather followed. Once they escaped to the forest beyond they found it living in summer. They journeyed down the river in search of a new home. As they walked, Tsinni warned the weary boy, "Don't look back. If you do, you will slip into the next world. People would admire your transformation, but not be able to converse with you”

Overwhelmed with nostalgia and longing for his fishing gear, the boy glanced back. Immediately, his feet rooted to the forest floor and he grew into the supernatural spruce tree with the needles of gold. With rescue impossible his grandfather left him with these parting words, "When you grow old and fall, your fallen body will become a nurse log and you will rise up again, standing until the end of the world. Each generation will look to you and remember your story."

Thereafter, when sensing the presence of a receptive mind, the Golden Spruce summons the Sun to illuminate his needles so he can, in his silence, communicate his message that we must respect the wisdom of the elders.