The Coyote Bringing Us Salmon carving was crafted by talented Blackfoot artist Chad Thompson in collaboration with acclaimed Russian carver Dmitrii Klimenko.
The carving depicts an Indigenous origin story of Coyote bringing Salmon to the Columbia River Watershed Nations. It sits at the Castlegar Campus, which is located at the confluence of the Columbia and Kootenay rivers.
About the Artists
Chad Thompson
Chad Thompson lives in the Slocan Valley with his teenage son, Kintan. Chad is an outstanding carpenter and contractor, those skills are only surpassed by the diversity and excellence of his artistic skills.
Chad grew up on a ranch bordering Kananaskis country in Alberta. At a young age, he learned a great respect for Mother Earth and was inspired daily by the vast wildlife and beauty of his surroundings. Drawing pride and inspiration from his Native ancestry, he hopes to enlighten people to the beauty and sophistication of First Nations culture and tradition. Never being schooled in art, Chad feels he is influenced constantly by his surroundings: "Mother Earth is the greatest teacher."
Chad has been given opportunities to work with experienced artists and has gained extensive knowledge and experience in mural painting, sculpture, graphic and logo design. Chad works mainly with acrylic paints but also indulges in antler, stone, wood sculpture, jewelry design, artifact reproduction and replicas, hide painting, leather work, fine woodworking and carpentry. As a nature enthusiast he spends time in the Kootenay’s enjoying fly fishing, bird watching, ski touring and paddling.
Chad considers his talents God-given and gives thanks to the creator for his abilities; thanking those who have given him support and guidance throughout his career.
Dmitrii Klimenko
Dmitrii Klimenko is a sculptor born in 1979 in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, who graduated from the Saint Petersburg State Academy of Art in 2004. He began sculpting sand that same year after a chance opportunity at a local competition, which led him to make it his primary medium alongside his
initial work in traditional materials like bronze and wood. He has participated in international sand and ice sculpture festivals in over 15 countries.
In his early career, Klimenko initially focused on monumental sculpture for public spaces.
Shift to Sand
He discovered sand sculpture in 2004, which became his main artistic medium due to its unique creative possibilities.
Education
He graduated in 2004 with a master's degree in Monumental Arts from the Saint Petersburg State Academy of Industrial Art and Design. International career: He has participated in numerous international sand sculpture festivals across the globe, including in Japan, Canada, the USA, Kuwait, and Belgium.
Other Media
In addition to sand, he also works with other materials such as ice, bronze, and wood.
Coyote Stories
Many Nations have stories of coyote as trickster. Explore stories shared from local Nations below.
The Okanagan Nation Alliance story comes to us from the salmon restoration work that they've been doing: snkʼlip ɬə cxʷuysts iʔ qaqxʷəlʼx How Coyote Brought the Salmon.
A Meaningful Gift
Selkirk College is grateful to the Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society (SWSS) for generously donating this carving to honour First Nations, bring beauty and inspiration to students, strengthen awareness of the ecological benefits of salmon reintroduction to the Columbia River, and recognize our long-standing partnership in advancing community-based stewardship and aquatic ecosystem health.
Donor story
This carving is a tangible rendition of the Indigenous origin story of Coyote bringing Salmon to Columbia River Nations. The story goes that Coyote—a bit of a scoundrel—brought Salmon up the River. As he met each Nation in his upstream journey, he offered them Salmon in exchange for the most beautiful women in their Nation. Those who made this exchange received Salmon.
Coyote is often seen as a unifying "deity" across many of the Columbia River Watershed Nations.
The Salmo Watershed Streamkeepers Society offers this remarkable piece of work to Selkirk College to encourage students to:
- Honour First Nations origin stories.
- Develop a relationship with the great ecological advantage of the reintroduction of Salmon into our Ecosystem.
- See the Coyote gift as a journey of collaboration and advantage for all.
- Begin to envision renewal, both in an ecological sense and in a social justice sense.
- Introduce or reinforce the ability of a great work of art to encourage feeling, sentiment, sensation, reaction, and response.
