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Chief Spring Salmon is the “Chief for all creatures in the water.” As a chief, Spring Salmon demonstrates the virtues of perseverance and hard work. Like the spring salmon that swims against the current to give his life for the next generation, we too swim against the current of life, against all odds, in order to provide for our family and community. On his journey the salmon will use various obstacles to his advantage as he combats the opposing current. Likewise the obstacles we face in life need to be looked at not as deterrents but as springboards on the path of life.
Chief Spring Salmon is representative of economic issues in the life of a community. The modern economy mimics the cyclical nature of the salmon’s life. The ups and downs in the economy are seasonal and normal; they cause us to persevere or prosper, but we must always keep the end goals in mind. The cycle does not end with us; it is passed on to the next generation. The economy generates employment and gives a means for our community to continue to survive. Proper care and management of our economy ensures a prosperous and successful future, as proper care for the waterways ensures the seasonal return of the spring salmon.
Another element of the salmon’s life is the four years that it spends in the ocean only to return to its place of birth to give life to the next generation. This is a reminder to the Syilx that no matter where life takes them there is place where they belong and from where they drew their life’s first breath. The success of Westbank First Nation is a result of those individuals who have educated themselves, either formally or traditionally, and have returned or chosen to stay to give back to their community as elected officials, community leaders, employees, entrepreneurs and avid community activists. Their hard work and perseverance has created the platform on which future generations can stand.