Salmon return to Salmon Arm West
An assembly to celebrate the legacy of two salmon drawings at Salmon Arm West was held on Tuesday, Dec. 14. Much like real salmon, the two large posters which depict Indigenous-styled artwork of salmon, started their journey at Salmon Arm West some 40 years ago have now returned back to the school!
The posters, which are comprised of many pieces put together, are now hanging in the school gym for all the students to enjoy.
Teacher Jake Jakobsen explained to the students that the posters originally belonged to now retired teacher, Linda McLeod, who taught at Salmon Arm West. McLeod used the posters as part of her unit on Indigenous studies. After some years, McLeod moved to Bastion Elementary and then eventually retired. When she retired she offered fellow teacher Shannon Sharp some of her learning resources, including the salmon.
Continuing the story, Jakobsen told the students that one day Sharp received a phone call from her good friend and a teacher at Salmon Arm West, Sharon Langlois, telling her that there was a kindergarten teaching position at Salmon Arm West and she should come work with her. Sharp considered it and then decided to move to Salmon Arm West.
When she moved she re-discovered the salmon pictures so she put them together and put them up in her new classroom at Salmon Arm West. Jakobsen said shortly after that, Sharp phoned him and said there was a Gr. 4-5 teaching position at Salmon Arm West and he should come teach there, so he thought about it and did.
Jakobsen saw the salmon pictures in her classroom and he admired them. Sharp explained the history behind the pictures saying they had travelled from Salmon Arm West to Bastion and are now back home.
Jakobsen went on to explain that something sad happened and “Mrs. Sharp got sick and passed away. We all felt really heartsick because we missed her.” He said time passed and then the new teacher, Dianne Peebles, came in and told the staff that she thought the pictures located in her classroom held special meaning, and that perhaps they should be put somewhere for all the students to enjoy. “We thought it was a great idea.”
They then shared the story with new Principal Laura Jègues in the fall of 2022. “I immediately knew how important the story and artwork was to this community and it’s culture, and after many discussions with staff we decided to mount the paintings in our gym.” she stated.
The posters were framed and hung by the talented Mel Cooper, one of the school district’s carpenters, and the assembly was held to mark the occasion. Jakobsen concluded that he can’t even begin to describe how much joy and pride that he has seeing them on the wall. “They remind me of three things. The fIrst thing is Mrs. Sharp. The second thing they always remind me of, is that we are so blessed to be in the Secwepemc territory. The last thing it will always remind me, is we are so lucky at Salmon Arm West to have this community of people – students, teachers, parents – that care for each other so much. For me that is home too.”
The assembly also included a video message from former teacher Sharon Langlois (who now teaches at North Shuswap) as well as a song with Indigenous Education Worker Lana Binder and students.