A North Coast Indigenous artist has released a new album in the Sm’algyax language.
Saltwater Hank’s album, Siip’nsk, was created to help preserve the language of the Ts’msyen people. Hank, originally from Prince Rupert, also wanted to honour his great-great-grandmother, who was a musician.
“I care a lot about our language, with there being around 60 fluent speakers remaining, and none of those speakers are under the age of 70,” Hank said in a press release.
“[Language] is such a tremendous part of who we are as Ts’msyen people. ... Through reclaiming the language, I reclaim identity, and by having it be a huge part of my creative process, I get to express that,” he said.
The album consists of songs that interweave traditional Ts’msyen melodies and phrases with genres of music such as rock and blues.
“I get a lot of enjoyment from using words that take an entire sentence in English to describe what they mean,” he said.
Hank’s music is not only important to him, but also to the Indigenous community.
“I feel I have a responsibility to pass it on. ... I feel lucky to be able to be a vessel for song [and this is] something bigger that I am fortunate to be a part of,” he said.
The release of the new album is accompanied by a summer tour that will take him throughout B.C. and to dates in PEI, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
It kicked off with an appearance at the Midsummer Music Festival in Smithers July 5 - 7, and will also see him perform in other Northwest events including the Bella Coola Music Festival July 19 - 21 and the Kispiox Valley Music Festival July 26 - 28.
