( T-ah Shee Kwin-nat )
" Spring Chinook Song "

Kla-how-eya! First nations greeting and the spirit of welcome to all the living beings of Mother Earth. I am an Alaskan Silver Hand Artist. This is a visual portrayal of a "Spirit Salmon". It is a collage design of the native customs and traditional art. This artwork literally illustrates the "Spring Chinook Song". This illusion is of a jumping salmon, flapping its tail out of the water. A silver screen with black music notes covers the lateral line, in which the salmon hears the song vibrations through the ocean. Spirit Salmon is a rare white Chinook salmon only 20-30 fish, out of millions is hatched yearly. This salmon is my basis in depecting the "First Salmon Harvest Festival". A spring celebration is given upon the arrival of the First Salmon, returning home to their spawning grounds. The cultural belief of the First Nations people has a deep reverence and sacred trust with the sea. A ceremonial song is a greeting to welcome, the first fish of the year. This custom honors with gratitude the joy of living. For the people the spring chinook provides a natural wealth and nourishment for both body and soul. A painted tenderfoot pouch reveals this image. A painted life cycle is shown throughout the Spirit Salmon with alpha and omega symbols.The song lyrics reveals the legend, when the first spring chinook of the year is spotted. It is a gift from the "Salmon King". In a grand gesture he would command the salmon annual migration landward, home from the sea. The Spirit Salmon has a soul print of the Salmon King, on the back of the flapping tail. In the front of the tail is a music stand with notes. The dorsla fin has the migrational compass with an abalone dial. Around the top of the head is a painted crown displaying it is a King salmon. Abalone rosettes are the eyes. The events of an ancient story tells how the raven helped to bring the sun to the sky and supply salmon in the rivers. There are painted symbols with abalone inserts are on the face and lower bottom fin. This Spirit Salmon conveys hidden images in the symbols. There are many layers of messages showcasing the First Nations spirituality. We all are part of a living chain of connections from Father Sky to Mother Earth.