Artist: Kelly Robinson

Tl'uk is edition #4 in a limited edition run of 12 bronze masks, each representing one of the moons of the Nuxalk calendar.  This mask is Si7is7amlhh - Time for Eating Spring Salmon. (Month of June - summer solstice June 21st)

Imagery: Moon

Material: Bronze

Dimensions: 27.5" round x 8.5" deep

Price: $12,500 CDN

From the Artist

Nuxalk believe we are all Spiritual Beings living in a physical world. Nuxalk New year is in March (When Herring Spawn). We believe every living thing on earth actually has a conscience (from our rivers, mountains, lakes, creeks etc). After our long-awaited harvesting season is finished, we then have gatherings and ceremonies. Always giving thanks back to our creator and ones who have come before us. The ones who have prepared the road we live on today. These spirits (Salmon, Trees, Animals, Plants), are then sent back to the spirit world, which is the month of January. Next is February, Month of the bed-wetter (the children). Always finishing the year off with the reasons why we take so much time for preparation. The reasons we do our best to pave the road for the next 7 generations. The Children. These cycles are always very well thought out and executed with the utmost attention with gentle teachings. This Lunar Calendar is essentially a living clock that has been a consistent reminder of how we all have a time and place in the great universe.

-Kelly Robinson

Nuxalk Lunar Calendar

The Nuxalk Lunar Calendar is matched with Months and is divided into two parts, the harvesting moons and the ceremonial moons.

 The Working/Harvesting Moons

The following Moons are associated with the supernatural canoe Kunkunalhpstus “what brings our food”.

Sxulmcnm / January 
“What sweeps away food”, the ending of the Kusyut dances.

Alhu7nstimut / February 
“Facing in both directions”
Lhlmulhis ti Nusaaxqamc (Ceremonial name of February)
“Potlatch of the bed-wetter”. the children’s potlatch.

Si7aqw’m / March
“When herring spawn”

 Siqyulc / April
“Time for making salmon weirs”

 Sinumawak / May
“Time for making hand-nets for eulachon”

 Si7is7amlhh / June
“Time for eating spring salmon”
Si7mt (summer solstices June 21^st)

 Siq’almtak / July 
“Time for the sockeye salmon to ascend the river”

 Si7ist’lilhh / August
“Time for eating dog salmon”

 Si7iswayslhh / September
“Time for eating Coho salmon”
Lhlmulhim “The Potlatch Moon” (This is the ceremonial name of Si7iswayslh)

The Ceremonial Moons

 The following moons are associated with the supernatural canoe Nuakcnm, “Canoe that travels between the worlds”; bringing the ceremonial time of the year.

Siqalxm / October 
“The time for gathering fern roots”
Si-takans tsi Anulikutsayc (after the full moon, the second half of the moon phase)
“The coming of Anulikutsyac”

 Iscsilhh / November 
“The time for Kusyut dances”

 Siqwlxwayc ti syut / December
“The gathering of the supernatural”
Si7mt (winter solstices December 21^st)