In 2014, we commissioned Russell Mather Jr. to produce a traditional work of art for our office in Prince Rupert, BC. Russell Mather Jr. is a local Tsimshian artist from the Lax Kw’alaams First Nations Band.

Mr. Mather’s representation of a traditional bentwood box is painted on a combination of native Yellow and Western Red Cedar planks. It measures 5 feet by 8 feet. Bentwood boxes store items of value and have been used for millennia by coastal First Nations. The piece, entitled Clarity, uses traditional images to tell an elaborate story of the coming together of BG Canada and the Tsimshian people.

On June 20th 2015, we held a public ceremony to unveil the artwork following proper Tsimshian protocol. Approximately 100 people attended the unveiling including First Nations leaders and elected officials.

Through this video, you will see First Nations’ cultural protocols being followed through the pubic unveiling ceremony. In a culture that relies on oral history, such as that of the Tsimshian, the public passing on of laws, contracts and stories is important.

There are many necessary protocols involved in a ceremony such as this. Passing the authority of the Melsk, or ‘truth telling’ of the artwork, was one. Another was a “naming” whereby a traditional Tsimshian name was bestowed upon a BG Canada representative. This allows the authority to share the story of the artwork to be transferred from the artist to BG Canada. The relevant tribal groups – Eagle, Raven, Wolf and Killer whale – were represented in the ceremony. Traditional singing and dancing were an essential part of the event, as was the witnessing by community members and elected and hereditary leaders. You’ll see on the video near the end of the event the giving of gifts to those witnesses, recognizing their role in the ceremony.

The authority of the Melsk for Clarity was passed to BG Canada in the art unveiling, giving us the “intellectual property rights” to now tell the story.

Clarity now acts as the center piece of our Prince Rupert office. It reminds us and everyone who comes into our office, that we are guests in Tsimshian territory.

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