Saltwater Hank – G̱al’üünx wil lu Holtga Liimi (2023)
Saltwater Hank, a Ts’msyen artist based in the enchanting coastal town of Prince Rupert, nestled in British Columbia, released his magnetic grassroots country album G̱al’üünx wil lu Holtga Liimi on July 1, 2023, in celebration of Canada Day. The album represents a powerful statement of resistance and resilience.
Hank unfurls a formidable statement of protest and indomitable spirit, wielding the power of music and harnessing the ancient Ts’msyen language, Sm’algyax, to combat centuries of cultural eradication by the Canadian government.
Drawing from the wellspring of ancestral wisdom and the profound comprehension of Ts’msyen songcraft, Hank aims to connect with other Ts’msyen individuals seeking to understand their language, as there are currently no first-generation speakers under the age of 60. Undeterred, Saltwater Hank sings in his native language. Indeed, Hank sees it as an act of rebelliousness and revitalization, proving that the government’s attempts at eradicating their culture and language have failed.
Jeremy Pahl, also known as Saltwater Hank, is a member of the Gitga’at Ts’msyen community in Prince Rupert. During the day, he works in the Ts’msyen nation’s archives, teaching and studying Sm’algyax. His deep immersion in the oral histories and traditional songs of his people inspires the songs on the album. Hank’s unique approach to country and roots music incorporates elements of Ts’msyen songs, which share similarities with the blues.
While most of the songs on the album are original compositions, Hank includes some traditional ones as well. He shares stories and knowledge of Ts’msyen culture, such as the significance of harvesting food along the beach and the oral history of the Ba’wis, or Sasquatch (also known as Bigfoot, a large and hirsute humanoid legendary being believed to dwell in woodlands across North America).
Hank’s music is a tribute to Ts’msyen traditional knowledge and demonstrates the enduring relevance of Indigenous culture. By translating a classic Hank Williams song into Sm’algyax, he shows how Indigenous languages can comfortably find a place in the country music genre.
One of his songs, “Na Waaba Gwa̱soo,” directly addresses police violence against First Nations peoples and speaks out against oppression.
G̱al’üünx wil lu Holtga Liimi is a testament to how Indigenous culture is always current and relevant. Hank believes in the responsibility to pass on his cultural heritage and views himself as a vessel for song.
Buy G̱al’üünx wil lu Holtga Liimi.
Author: Claudia Taylor
