The Wild Salmon Defenders Alliance (WSDA) gathered in Hope last Sunday to hand a weaving over to a fundraising contest winner.
The Salish weaving was created by Yvette John, White Plume Woman, of the Chawathil First Nation.
Eddie Gardner and Terry Wilkinson handed over the weaving to Gina Peters of Hope.
“The weaving is full of meaningful symbols,” Gardner said. “We xwelmexw are salmon people. The star at the top represents continuous life, the red and green salmon spawning represents giving life and rebirth, the hour-glass shaped diamonds and triangles mean love and protection — and it also represents time is running out for our endangered wild salmon. The bear represents we all need to eat wild salmon, as wild salmon is ‘life’ for many species, not only humans.”
He said that when you look at the weaving together as a whole it “inspires us all to do our part to help restore wild salmon for the benefit of this beautiful part of Mother Earth.”
The fundraiser was held to help shore up funds for the WSDA as they strive to ensure that wild salmon and their habitat are safe, and don’t “go the way of the cod and the buffalo.”
“Our heartfelt gratitude, love and respect goes to Yvette John for her generosity, creativity and commitment towards wild salmon as she is a fisher, and profoundly appreciates as a food security upon which we Sto:lo depended upon for thousands of years,” Gardner said in a social media he shared with The Standard.
It was Terry Wilkinson who dreamt up the fundraiser and promoted it at farmers markets and other events for the past several months. People were able to buy a medallion for $20 as a prize entry, which raised just over $2,500 for the WSDA. They also gained more volunteers for the group.
“We are so happy that this creation will be settled in nicely in a loving home, with a very happy Gina Peters,” Wilkinson said. “We would like to also take this opportunity to thank all those people across B.C., from as far away as Campbell River, Salt Spring Island, and across the province, who happily supported the cause of protection of our Wild Salmon and still have their beautiful medallions and our love as a memento of gratitude.”
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