Respect for Nature & Property
Artist’s Statement
This piece, titled Respect for Nature and Property, reflects a deep reverence for nature and the traditions passed down through generations. Inspired by a story from my grandfather, the artwork focuses on the practice of returning salmon bones to the water or burying them in the ground with their heads facing upstream. This ritual symbolizes the regeneration and rebirth of the salmon, allowing the salmon people to be reconstituted and return the following year.
The artwork is divided into three phases, each illustrating a different stage of this regeneration process. In the first phase, the salmon bones are shown being placed back into the river or buried in the ground. The second phase depicts the flesh of the salmon forming back onto the bones, symbolizing the reconstitution of the salmon people. In the final phase, a female salmon is shown depositing eggs into the river, representing abundance and the continuation of the salmon’s life cycle.
Through this piece, I aim to convey the importance of respecting nature and the property of the salmon people, which includes the rivers and lakes where they spawn. By returning the salmon bones to these waters, we honor the spirits of the salmon and ensure their return for future generations. This tradition embodies the deep connection and reverence we hold for the natural world and the cyclical nature of life.
Artist: Wéidaaká Yóodóohaa, Bill Pfeifer Jr.