Milky Waters

Each year, the herring return to the waters of the Northwest Coast to begin their spawning season, which awakens the ocean's life. The sealions follow the herring, and so do all species of salmon. For thousands of years, my ancestors have looked forward to the return of the herring because this meant fresh herring eggs. From the first sign of herring spawn, the people are ready to harvest the eggs.

Young trees are cut and weighted, suspended from an anchor at the ocean floor to hang submerged so that the herring will spawn on the branches. The trees are then pulled from the ocean, looking like Christmas trees covered in white herring eggs. The branches are cut and taken back to the village to be prepared for eating. Sea grass is covered with herring eggs and harvested by divers who brave ice-cold waters. Today, the most modern method is hanging a special kelp from floats, which is eaten with the eggs.

The excitement begins with the sighting of Milky Waters, a phenomenon caused by the milky sperm that the male herring deposits wherever the spawning females are found.

So this is a rendition showing people in a canoe who have just found the creamy color in the ocean during the moon of Milky Waters.