Four Food Chiefs Series, Dragon Boat Pub, Penticton, BC
Chief Ntyxtix (Salmon). Chief for all creatures in the water. The chief salmon represents a masculine forward moving energy of individual action. Individual, yet also aware that one’s actions ripple outwards affecting the individual, family or community. This requires responsibility for one’s action and accountability for the consequences. I chose the position of the salmon leaping out of the water to embody the characteristics of determination, direct action and resilience.
Chief Skemxist (Black Bear). Chief for all creatures on the land. The black bear in the four food chief teachings represents stability, tradition, protocols and the elder energy. One tradition that is referenced within the bear outline is the traditional sweat lodge. The rocks at the base represent the stability of elders, given their wisdom. The rocks that are heated up by the sacred fire and used in the ceremony are also referred to as “grandfathers”. The sacred fire is kept alive by fire keepers who are the cultural and spiritual knowledge keepers. Elders have the wisdom and responsibility to guide the teachings because a fire can provide warmth and illumination, although if it is out of control it can destroy. The smoke contained within the bear represents how plant medicine such as sage, cedar or mullen is sprinkled over the hot stones and transmuted into smoke representing the transition of the physical into the spiritual. The link between the physical and the spiritual is also represented by the sweat lodge and the stars. The stars are light within a dark sky, just as the sweat lodge is a chance to find the light within, to be in contact with your spirit.
Chief Siya (Saskatoon Berry). Chief for things growing on land. Chief Siya is the complementary pairing to the elder energy of the Black Bear. Chief Siya represents youthful, creative, innovative energy. The imagery shows the roots and the stems of the saskatoon berry representing the support structures and roots that uphold the youth. The suspended berries in the design represent that moment when the youth are able to realize and embrace their unique, energetic, perspective. To go forward in life carrying the creative, visionary energy and to spread it outwards just as the seeds of berries are spread outwards.
Chief Speetlum (Bitter Root). Chief for things under the ground. The four food chiefs are complementing pairs that are connected by opposing qualities. The Chief that complements the masculine direct individual of the salmon is Chief Speetlum which represents female relationships and honours the bonds and interconnection we have as social beings. In the design, I represented this as the extensive root structures and also I added a mother figure within the roots. Demonstrating not only our bonds to our mothers but to the earth and our connection to the animals, plants, air, land, and water. It is our responsibility to take care of all our relations.