Culture
The modern Sliammon community, like all nations worldwide, has a mix of modern and traditional cultural influences. The people have access to all of today's technology yet continue to carry forward ancient traditions and knowledge mainly in the form of creative arts and crafts. These include:
- Carving - Gifted craftsman can carve a variety of materials (wood, stone and bone etc) into various art forms. Wood carving is the most common form which can be used to create Totem Poles and other decorations. Sliammon Totem Poles can be seen along the seawalk in Powell River.
- Art - Painting is another form of cultural expression. Traditional Native art/designs often contain a mix of three primary colors, Red, Black and White, and sometimes other colours may be used. The design usually represents an animal, character, or totem of some description.
- Native Jewelry - Creating gold and silver jewelry with native designs is a more modern form of cultural expression.
Weaving - Weaving is a popular past time passed down from generation to generation by the elders. Weaving using Cedar roots is often used to create ceremonial head bands, baskets, hats and other assorted items.
- Textiles - The creation of button blankets, vests and other native designed clothing for all-purpose or ceremonial use.
- Story Telling - Native legends and knowledge is often passed down through the generations in story form.
- Song and Dance - A form of story telling, converting a story or legend into a song with symbolic dance. The Nun Kum dance group is one of the groups promoting Sliammon's cultural heritage through song and dance. (See Nun Kum Dancers).
Other cultural influences which continue to this day include; the Sliammon language, traditional cooking methods (producing smoked salmon), tribal journeys in canoes along traditional routes, and family cultural values and the importance of the Elders. The Elders are highly respected and appreciated in the Sliammon community as the primary sources of knowledge and skills which are passed down from generation to generation.
The Sliammon Cultural Department (a division of the Band Office) has been preserving and promoting Sliammon's cultural roots for over 30 years now. Their success arises from the hard work and dedication from past cultural workers who all shared the vision to revive Sliammon's cultural heritage, traditions, and especially the Sliammon language.
