Fast fact: A few years ago – January 2019 to March 2023 – parts of northern B.C. experienced very unCanadian-like behaviour: disagreements over a river, The Blue and Green River aka the Wedzin Kwah aka the Morice River aka the Bulkley River.
These disagreements led to RCMP violence, harassment, discrimination and dispossession against Indigenous Wet’suwet’en communities who were defending the river against the construction of a liquified natural gas pipeline through their unceded ancestral territory without their free, prior and informed consent.
These disagreements led to RCMP violence, harassment, discrimination and dispossession against Indigenous Wet’suwet’en communities who were defending the river against the construction of a liquified natural gas pipeline through their unceded ancestral territory without their free, prior and informed consent.
Fast forward:
Recognizing the importance of the Wedzin Kwah, the Museum of Northern BC in Prince Rupert now features, until the end of September, "The Mighty Wedzin Kwah, Salmon River at Risk?" The gallery brings together art, poetry, and photography to focus on the Wedzin Kwah and its importance to our environment and our Indigenous stewards.
Like so many others, one of the featured artists, Perry Rath, believes the protection of the Wedzin Kwah is essential to the health of the environment and the community. “You get drawn into the river and what’s at risk.” His salmon canvases reflect the abundance of fish in times past…
Recognizing the importance of the Wedzin Kwah, the Museum of Northern BC in Prince Rupert now features, until the end of September, "The Mighty Wedzin Kwah, Salmon River at Risk?" The gallery brings together art, poetry, and photography to focus on the Wedzin Kwah and its importance to our environment and our Indigenous stewards.
Like so many others, one of the featured artists, Perry Rath, believes the protection of the Wedzin Kwah is essential to the health of the environment and the community. “You get drawn into the river and what’s at risk.” His salmon canvases reflect the abundance of fish in times past…
The following piece reflects the collaboration with local Indigenous artist Amanda Hugon who added traditional Indigenous designs in a collaboration on this painting.
As well as the salmon paintings, the exhibit features strong poetry by Wet'suwet'en writer Jennifer Wickham, What If I Told You… that we are the land and the land is us? Her final line: “….and what if you believed me?” leaves a poignant question.
Photographs are by Matt Simmons and Michael Toledano. Toledano’s photos are from the 2025 award-winning documentary, Yintah. Writers are Matt Simmons and Brent Patterson.
The exhibit gives the viewer something to think about. It should have wider coverage because it raises the question of how we treat our environment. Most of us are aware that negative environmental changes are now part of today’s life: floods, wildfires, air quality.
By now, you must have figured out, the featured artist who lives in Smithers B.C. but paints these endangered salmon waters, is our son.
Now, if only we can figure out how to see him more often….
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