Happy Earth Day! It just so happens that this week’s Earthen Ethic installment is ready today. How apropos– as this one is perhaps the most radical and exciting of them all. I’ve been working on it for months and I am really honored that my old friend James Madam, is letting me use his paintings for this piece.
– Interior News: “Wet’suwet’en artist James Madam’s painting on the Esso building will welcome visitors to Moricetown.”
James is a fellow artist from the land of the Bulkley Valley and the nation of the Wet’su’weten (in what is now called by many Northwestern Canada). James and I were both struggling artists back when I lived there. James has persevered against the odds as an artist. Beleive me, it’s not easy being a full focused artist in a small town! We used to share sandwiches and commiserate. I have deep respect for his art and the Wet’su’weten wisdom he captures.
James is a fellow artist from the land of the Bulkley Valley and the nation of the Wet’su’weten (in what is now called by many Northwestern Canada). James and I were both struggling artists back when I lived there. James has persevered against the odds as an artist. Beleive me, it’s not easy being a full focused artist in a small town! We used to share sandwiches and commiserate. I have deep respect for his art and the Wet’su’weten wisdom he captures.
My essay this week is all about the example of Salmon and the deep lessons that the Wet’su’weten that learn from it. Being able to use James’s art is thus a humbling synchronistic blessing.
‘Eagle and Salmon No2 — by James Madam, Wet’suwet’en artist. Surpluses flow upwards from the salmon to its ecosystem and its ecosystem to its biome.
Perhaps you’ve heard how some of the most forward thinking business and corporations today give 1% of their profits to the Earth. Pretty cool right? Well, the Salmon, if they could speak… would nod their heads and say “It’s a start little brother”.
In contrast, the Pacific Salmon give 99% of their surpluses back to the Earth. In a fascinating and inspiring seven year cycle, the Salmon earn greatly, then intentionally return upwards to their ecology.
“Ok, sure” says a corporate financial officer “but what kind of economic impact does their enterprise have?”
Every year the Salmon ecologically nourish hundreds of thousands of animals and humans– and power the 130 year old, 800 million dollar salmon fishing industry. The dollars pale though in comparison to the how the Salmon have sustained their enterprise for the last 4-6 million years.
As we strive to green our household, enterprises, and technologies the Salmon provide powerful insights on how to do it.
I hope and pray that my words faithfully sum up the spirit of the Salmon, of Jame’s art and the wisdom of the Wetʼsuwetʼen.
