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Salmon Ceremony |
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Salmon Processing |
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Kwagiulth Museum & Cultural Centre
The Salmon Ceremony: Story and Pictures
James Wilson, representing his wife's
twin sister, performing the Salmon Ceremony.
![James Wilson](img_km/bon2.jpg) |
The Salmon Ceremony is held each year when the first salmon runs begin, usually around
June. The ceremony is held to thank the salmon, as members of the Animal Kingdom, for
allowing themselves to be killed in order to provide food for humans. The Kwakwaka'wakw
people believe that if the salmon are not thanked properly they will not come back the next year,
or that something bad will befall the salmon stock.
This notion comes from the Kwakwaka'wakw belief that animals are part of the Animal
Kingdom, which is made up of beings who can transform themselves back and forth between
their animal forms and their human forms. Animals give themselves up freely in order to provide
food for humans. At one time, thousands of years ago, humans and the Animal Kingdom beings
could communicate with each other. However, over the years, humans have lost their power to
see animals in their human forms. This belief is expressed in one of the Sewid family dances
called "Anus and the Animal Kingdom." The Kwakwaka'wakw people believe that animals,
such as the salmon, allow themselves to be caught, and that if their remains are treated correctly,
the animal will return home and become another animal, and eventually sacrifice itself again.
Therefore, if the Animal Kingdom is not properly thanked for its sacrifice there will be no more
food.
This is the reason the Kwakwaka'wakw people hold the Salmon Ceremony and celebrate the
first run of the salmon each year. They are ensuring that the runs will come back again the
following year. It is very important that the salmon runs return, because throughout the history of
the First Nations people on the British Columbia coast, the salmon have been a major staple of
their diet and an integral part of their lives. This is why the salmon is one of the most celebrated
members of the Animal Kingdom.
James Wilson, representing his wife's
twin sister, performing the Salmon Ceremony.
![James Wilson](img_km/bon1.jpg) |
![James Wilson](img_km/bon3.jpg) |
The Salmon Ceremony is held each year when the first salmon of the run is caught. The
salmon's head, bones, and entrails are separated from the flesh and wrapped in a cedar mat or
bow. The wrapped salmon remains are then handed over to a set of twins from the village. Twins
are entrusted with the remains of the salmon because twins are believed to come from the
Salmon People, and are seen as lucky. The twins then carry the remains down to the water while
the rest of the village follows. Once at the water's edge, the elder of the village chants and gives
thanks to the Salmon People for providing his people with food. The salmon remains are then put
into the water so that the salmon can return home to its people and tell them how well it was
treated. Because the salmon's remains were placed back in the water, the salmon will come back
to life and return again the next year.
Mable James, formerly Mable Sewid,
performing the Salmon Dance.
![Dancer](img_km/bldan.jpg) |
After this ceremony everyone goes back to the Big House for dancing and a feast. The
Salmon Dance is performed by twins and their siblings, who represent a salmon in the dance. An
older sibling of the twins forms the head of the salmon, the twins form the body, and a younger
sibling forms the tail of the salmon. After the Salmon Dance other dances are performed. When
the dancing is over the feast begins. The meat from the salmon that was used in the earlier
ceremony is cooked up and eaten by all. This salmon, as well as other salmon, are prepared and
eaten along with a variety of other dishes. The close of the feasting marks the end of the Salmon
Ceremony and celebrations. The Salmon Dance is not exclusive to the Salmon Ceremony, but is
also performed at potlatches and other occasions throughout the year.
From left to right: Nicole Assu, Emma
Perrault (Sewid), Mable James (Sewid), and Marcella Perrault. All are performing in the
Salmon Dance.
![Dancers](img_km/danc2.jpg) |
The above description of the Salmon Ceremony was provided by Dora Cook and Lucy
Olney. Dora and Lucy are sisters from the Sewid family. They grew up on Village Island, located
in the mouth of Knight Inlet. Both are from the Mamaleleqala band which is part of the
Kwakwaka'wakw Nation. The Sewid family was blessed later in life with the addition of a set of
female twins. The family attributes their prosperity and success in life to the luck brought to
them because of the twins. In the Sewid family, Lucy forms the head of the salmon while her
twin sisters, Mable and Emma form the body of the salmon. However, because the twins are the
youngest in the family their salmon is tailless.
Various salmon and seafood dishes set
out for the feast.
![Food for the feast.](img_km/tabl.jpg) |
For more pictures of the Salmon Ceremony or for pictures of salmon processing click on the
appropriate button in the side bar at the top of this page.
Kwagiulth Museum, Quadra Island,
B.C.
![Kwagiulth Museum and Cultural Centre](img_km/kbuild.jpg) |
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Saturday
10:00am to 4:30pm
Sunday (Effective June to September)
12:00pm to 4:30pm
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Address:
Kwagiulth Museum
P.O. Box 8
Quathiaski Cove,
B.C. V0P 1N0
(250) 285-3733
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