Blessing of the Log

We went to a blessing ceremony today on the Lummi Reservation. Felix Solomon is a renowned Lummi carver and a friend. He called this morning to let us know that there would be a blessing of the log he will carve into a Coast Salish river canoe. We were honored to be invited to the ceremony this afternoon.

Last year Felix carved the first river canoe in generations for the Stillaguamish Tribe. My teacher Trish Harding took a group of us to his studio to meet him and see the work in progress on that canoe. Felix and I became friends. Arvin and I followed the progress of that first canoe until it was completed in July. Here is my Flickr set of photos I took at the completion ceremony of that canoe.

Felix will be carving another river canoe for the Kwikwetlem First Nation of Coquitlam, BC, Canada. This one will be even bigger than the first one. It will be carved from an old growth cedar log that was recovered from an old logging camp where it was used as a bridge for loading logs. It is over 30 feet long.

We arrived as the blessing was in progress. We were honored to be included in the event. At the end of the ceremony members of the Kwikwetlem group washed the log in preparation for its transformation into a river canoe. This is the bowl and branches they used to wash the log. Felix carved this bowl.

We are looking forward to following the progress of the new canoe. He hopes to complete it in July in time for the annual canoe journey.

Look at the large version to see more details.