What Is the Sisiutl Symbol in Native American Art
How the Sisiutl symbol came to be part of Greenpeace's identity is both an important office of our origins and a troubling story of cultural appropriation. At present, we're taking a closer look at our history.
Editor'south note: read an expanded version of this history hither.
A few months ago I had the privilege to watch an advance screening of the extraordinary documentary "How to Modify the World." Jerry Rothwell's compelling movie brings to life a formative chapter of Greenpeace'due south early history, seen through the eyes of belatedly co-founder Bob Hunter.
The picture show is rich with passionate people who founded this intrepid organization and I felt a sense of pride to piece of work for an organization that has an incredible legacy left by such a pocket-sized simply powerful grouping of individuals.
There was, nonetheless, one image present throughout the film that brought both a knowing grinning and a slight wince to my face up, that of the sometime Greenpeace ecology and peace symbol encircled past a double-headed serpent.
What nosotros actually come across in the film — most notably on the sails of Greenpeace's first ship, the Phyllis Cormack — is an altered version of an aboriginal crest chosen the Sisiutl, sacred to a number of indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest.
How this symbol came to exist part of Greenpeace'south identity is both an of import part of our origins and a troubling story of cultural cribbing. That's why my job for the by year has been managing the Sisiutl Renewal Project, which has the goal of both restoring the dignity of the crest at Greenpeace and reconciling information technology with the spirit with which information technology was shared with usa.
To empathize this quest for reconciliation, we have to go dorsum to the kickoff.
Greenpeace'due south Outset Mission
In 1971, Greenpeace embarked on its start mission: protesting U.S. nuclear testing at Amchitka, Alaska.
A dozen activists gear up sail in a chartered gunkhole, stopping along the way at the ethnic customs of 'Yalis, or Alarm Bay, on Canada's westward coast. Here, members of the Kwakwaka'wakw group of First Nations gifted the crew with wild coho salmon and a approval for their journey.
Though they were eventually turned away past the U.S. Coast Baby-sit before confronting the nuclear weapons exam, the crew was invited to a celebration in their laurels back at the Large House in Alert Bay. There they were acknowledged by members of various Kwakwaka'wakw communities for their courage in standing up to the Unites States military industrial complex. The Kwakwaka'wakw honored the coiffure with a feast and with traditional regalia, and invited them to participate in i of their ceremonial dances, the Peace Dance.
Greenpeace voyagers in total regalia at Alert Bay post-obit the first Greenpeace voyage to Amchitka. Photo by Greenpeace / Rex Wyler.
Presently after that ceremony, Bob Hunter was given a blue cloth with a Sisiutl crest past a leader of one of the Kwakwaka'wakw communities.
The Sisiutl Symbol and Greenpeace
The Sisiutl symbol is a powerful spiritual crest which for the Kwakwaka'wakw symbolizes the balance of life between adept and evil. Wearing it and telling its stories helps warriors and healers with their piece of work. It is also used to protect canoes and Big Houses.
Only certain Kwakwaka'wakw individuals and families, too as other coastal First Nations, take the cultural and spiritual rights to display the Sisiutl in ceremonies, and so for the Kwakwaka'wakw to share this crest with Bob and Greenpeace was a huge honor.
Nosotros don't really know at this point what the original Sisiutl on that piece of textile looked like or why it was shared with Bob. Nosotros tin can only surmise that, given its meanings of protection and full general clan with the sea and warriors, it was a blessing or gift.
What nosotros practice know is that its grade was dramatically contradistinct sometime between 1974 and 1975, when Bob and his team decided to use information technology equally the basis for a new symbol for their anti-commercial whaling campaign.
In making that decision to adopt and accommodate the Sisiutl, the sacred crest was in fact inappropriately altered and hybridized, its meaning forever changed. With the benefit of hindsight, and with greater understanding today of Kwakwaka'wakw customs and traditions, nosotros recognize that we as Greenpeace didn't have the right to alter it and get in our ain — especially to the caste that this hybrid continues to be displayed.
Restoring the Sisiutl Symbol
With this in mind, Greenpeace approached representatives of Kwakwaka'wakw communities in 2012 to inquire about how to restore the Sisiutl to a more culturally advisable grade and to explore the possibility of having it re-defended by representatives of these Showtime Nations. Information technology was suggested nosotros contact well-known Kwakwaka'wakw artist and cultural leader Beau Dick to assistance us. Beau agreed to redesign the Sisiutl crest for our apply in perpetuity, and we in plough agreed never to change the blueprint.
In March of this year, we returned to Alert Bay, where nosotros had the privilege of renewing and re-dedicating the Sisiutl crest at a customs feast ceremony hosted past a prominent family. A few of the community members present that mean solar day had been at the 1971 ceremony every bit children.
In that location, Greenpeace representatives — together with surviving members of the original crew of the Phyllis Cormack — addressed the many hereditary chiefs and community members and apologized for the misappropriation of the original Sisiutl symbol. Swain's redesign of the Sisiutl was then unveiled.
Mike Willie Potlatch. Photo by John Lehmann / The World and Mail.
Photo used with permission from Eduardo Sousa. All Rights Reserved / Not for Reuse.
Later that night, myself and colleague Mark Worthing were asked to perform the Peace Trip the light fantastic toe in total regalia (shown left). That moment, echoing that historic day in the autumn of 1971, helped reinvigorate the straight and emotional ties betwixt our Greenpeace community and the Kwakwaka'wakw.
Months later aboard the Esperanza nosotros introduced the new Sisiutl crest to the current armada of Greenpeace ships through a special blessing ceremony with representatives from the Kwakwaka'wakw communities. The new Sisiutl crest flies proudly as a flag side by side to the international Greenpeace flag on board the Esperanza.
The renewed Sisiutl Crest flies proudly alongside international Greenpeace and Haida Nation flags on the Esperanza send. © Joseph Strohan / Greenpeace.
Rewriting Our Story
The renewed Sisiutl crest. Credit: Beau Dick.
"How to Alter the World" shows the power of impassioned individuals to make a difference but every bit much equally information technology reveals the type of human frailties that led us to appropriate the Sisiutl symbol.
Nosotros acknowledge the heroics of the people Greenpeace is built on. In the instance of the Sisiutl, nosotros must as well take responsibility for the legacy of its misuse. Bated from following proper protocols and undertaking ceremonies that authorize us to behave the new Sisiutl, nosotros are at present rewriting the story of how we came to the symbol and what it actually means, and volition circulate information technology — along with prints of the new Sisiutl — to Greenpeace offices effectually the globe.
Source: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/greenpeace-and-the-sisiutl-a-story-of-cultural-appropriation-and-reconciliation/#:~:text=The%20Sisiutl%20symbol%20is%20a,protect%20canoes%20and%20Big%20Houses.
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