The Salmon Symbol

Traits: Dependability & Renewal - A Provider

Description: The Pacific Northwest Coast people believed that Salmon were actually humans with eternal life how lived in a large house far under the ocean. In the Spring, they put on their Salmon disguises and offered themselves to the villagers as food. The tribes believed that when entire fish skeletons were returned to the sea, the spirits would rise again and change into Salmon people. In this way, the cycle could begin again the following year. Since the villagers feared that the Salmon people would not be treated respectfully by White people who had no knowledge of the taboos and regulations, they did not want to sell Salmon to the first White men.

By: Unknown

Artists With Artwork On This Site

• Bill Reid
  Art: Dogfish
• Don Yeomans
  Art: Butterfly
• Glen Wood
  Art: Owl
• Glenn J. Schworak
  Art: Dragon Fly, Hummingbird, Otter, Seal, Wolf
• Joe David
  Art: Swan
• Nathaniel P. Wilkerson
  Art: Hummingbird, Sun, Wolf
• Robert Davidson
  Art: Beaver, Thunderbird
• Stanley Hunt
  Art: Moon
• Todd Jason Baker
  Art: Cougar, Dolphin, Dove, Dragon Fly, Frog, Goose, Hawk, Killer Whale, Wolf
• Unknown
  Art: Bear, Bumblebee, Deer, Eagle, Eagle Feather, Halibut, Heron, Kingfisher, Loon, Rabbit, Raven, Salmon