#joe wahalatsu? seymour jr

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Our Culture Is Woven Into the Land

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

woven paper, synthetic sinew, framing. 32.35” x 37.75”

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I Went Back to My Territory, But My Territory was Gone

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

woven paper, framing. 32.25” x 37.75”

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More Than You Realize

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

woven archival paper, conservation framing. 47” x 32” x 1.63”

This is a weaving of a map of Puget Sound from 1867 and a graphic image of a school of salmon. I created this piece to highlight how important salmon are, not just to the Native peoples of the Pacific Northwest, but to the animals of the area and to the land. For Native peoples the salmon are our life blood–if there are no salmon, there will be no people. But salmon are equally important to the animals of the region as well. Predators like bears and eagles will take the salmon out of the water and use them to nourish their bodies. After the animals have taken what they need from the salmon they leave the carcass on the ground. Over time, the carcass breaks down and feeds vital nutrients into the land. The trees and the fauna of the temperate rain forests are dependent on these carcasses. If we take care of the habitat of the salmon, then we can have healthy salmon runs which, in turn, means that we can have predators that have enough to eat and we have forests that can thrive and support other types of life.

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My Mesa in the Valley

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

woven paper, framing, 31.75” x 37.5”

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Blanket Study 2

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

giclée print on aluminum

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Enjoy Beautiful Bastiqiyu

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

archival paper, acrylic paint, birch panel. 35.75” x 24”

Pronounced “Bas-teh-KEE-u” translating to “it has wolves”, referencing the Washington Park neighborhood, approximately just north of Denny Blaine Park.

“Before colonial settlers came to our territories, all the places that now have English names had names in Lushootseed. The paintings in this exhibit pay homage to those names. The names that my ancestors gave to these places were often descriptions of the natural characteristics of the land. “bastiqiyu” translates to “it has wolves,” meaning that you were likely to encounter a wolf at or near that place. “txsIaR” translates into “place of the raven.” It is important to remember these characteristics my ancestors identified and to remember the language that my ancestors spoke.

In this time that governments and institutions are giving “land acknowledgments” before meetings and gatherings, it is very important that we not only acknowledge the land, but that we also acknowledge the language my ancestors spoke and the individual characteristics of the land they lived on.”

[superinjun]

On the Hunt

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

Sand carved starfire glass, yellow cedar. 10.75” x 16” x 19”

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A Murder in Pierce County

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

woven archival paper, conservation framing. 31” x 45” x 1.5”

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Greetings from sdzidzƏlʔaliČ

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

Archival Paper, Acrylic Paint, Birch Panel. 20.5" x 35.5" x .75"

Pronounced “TZEETS-zahlal-each,” translating in English to “little crossing over place,” referencing the portage route between what is now King Street Station in the International District of Seattle and Leschi.

“Before colonial settlers came to our territories, all the places that have English names had names in Lushootseed. These paintings highlight the importance of remembering what those names were. The names that my ancestors gave to these places were often descriptions of the natural characteristics of the land. “bastiqiyu” translates to “it has wolves” meaning that you were likely to encounter a wolf at or near that place. “txsIaR ” translates into “place of the raven.” It is important to remember these characteristics my ancestors identified and to remember the language that my ancestors spoke.

In this time that governments and institutions are saying “land acknowledgments” before meeting and gatherings, it is very important that we not only acknowledge the land, but we acknowledge the language that my ancestors spoke and the individual characteristics of the land that they lived on.”

[superinjun]

Welcome to StƏČAS

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

Archival Paper, Acrylic Paint, Birch Panel. 35.25" x 25.38" x .75"

Pronounced “STEH-chas,” meaning “Place of the Black Bear” in Lushootseed, referencing the area that in English is titled Budd Inlet near Olympia, where the Salish Sea begins.

“Before colonial settlers came to our territories, all the places that have English names had names in Lushootseed. These paintings highlight the importance of remembering what those names were. The names that my ancestors gave to these places were often descriptions of the natural characteristics of the land. “bastiqiyu” translates to “it has wolves” meaning that you were likely to encounter a wolf at or near that place. “txsIaR ” translates into “Place of the Raven.” It is important to remember these characteristics my ancestors identified and to remember the language that my ancestors spoke.

In this time that governments and institutions are saying “land acknowledgments” before meeting and gatherings, it is very important that we not only acknowledge the land, but we acknowledge the language that my ancestors spoke and the individual characteristics of the land that they lived on.”

[superinjun]

Camas Flower Drum

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour, Jr (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

deer hide, maple frame, acrylic paint. 17.38” x 17.38” x 3”

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Enjoy Beautiful txʷskʷaqʷ

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

Archival paper, acrylic paint, birch panel. 27.78” x 39.25”

Pronounced “toohk – SKWAHK- w”, with the last letter replicating the sound of blown air. This is the place where Clarks Creek enters into the Puyallup River and translates to “Place of the Raven”.

“Before colonial settlers came to our territories, all the places that have English names had names in lushootseed. These paintings highlight the importance of remembering what those names were. The names that my ancestors gave to these places were often descriptions of the natural characteristics of the land. “bastiqiyu” translates to “it has wolves” meaning that you were likely to encounter a wolf at or near that place. “txsIaR ” translates into “place of the raven.” It is important to remember these characteristics my ancestors identified and to remember the language that my ancestors spoke.

In this time that governments and institutions are saying “land acknowledgments” before meeting and gatherings, it is very important that we not only acknowledge the land, but we acknowledge the language that my ancestors spoke and the individual characteristics of the land that lived on.”

[superinjun]

Orca and Salmon Spindle Whorl

Joe Wahalatsu? Seymour Jr. (Squaxin/Acoma Pueblo)

sand carved starfire glass, yellow cedar. 11.25” x 18” x 16”