Festival goers from across northwest B.C. celebrated cultural expression and community spirit at the vibrant Salmon Festival in Prince Rupert on May 23 and 24.
The event, organized by the Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Dancers & Society, featured a range of local artistry, delicious seafood, and traditional performances.
“I think it’s important for our community and visitors to come out and just witness the event. It’s a free event, and it’s so full of cultural knowledge and insight,” said Marlena Joseph, a Gitmaxmak’ay Nisga’a Dancers' dance director.
As usual, the event featured plenty of drumming and dancing from numerous local groups. But Joseph noted there were over 30 vendors this year, which was more than ever before.
Talented craftspeople lined the halls with their beadwork, raven’s tail weavings, regalia, copper-pounded designs, traditional masks and clothing, and Indigenous medicines. Fresh barbecue salmon was also served to the public for lunch and supper.
Joseph reflected that the first Salmon Fest in Rupert was inspired by the return of the salmon’s first run.
“We, as an Indigenous community, celebrate what feeds our people and share the food with others to come in and enjoy,” she said.
She noted that around 1,500 people attend the two-day celebration yearly.
Vendors for 40 years
Marlene and Gregory Smith have long been Indigenous arts vendors based in Gitsegukla, a First Nation community located in northwest B.C., approximately 40 kilometres southwest of Hazelton.
While Gregory devotes countless hours to carving impeccably smooth, artistic masks, Marlene beads and makes jewellery, creates regalia, and designs and paints a variety of items.
Gregory proudly points to an eagle mask that took him 10 months to perfect.
“I couldn’t work at the mill anymore, so I started carving around the year 2000,” he said. Not only was Gregory self-taught, but unlike many artists who begin by making simpler items such as spoons, he started learning to carve masks right from the beginning.
He now carves all the time. Gregory picks up an extremely smooth mask and says, “Sometimes I’ll keep sanding it, and suddenly I’ll see blood.”
“But my dad always says, ‘if you gonna do something, do it right.’”
Marlene says she has been a vendor for 40 years, sharing her work at events such as the All-Native Basketball Tournament and the early years of Salmon Fest.
She noted that her beadwork designs are often striking and easily distinguished from those of other vendors.
She and Gregory spend much of their lives on the road, bringing their handcrafted art and cultural heritage to communities across Haida Gwaii, the Nass Valley, Kitimat, Terrace, and beyond. They enjoy connecting with other artists along the way and learning more about the diverse processes behind their creations.
