The Salmon’s Gift

Tlingit
Yellow Cedar, Copper
17.5” x 42.5” x 1.25”

The Salmon’s Gift marks a powerful beginning: the first three-dimensional panel Calvin Morberg has completed under the mentorship of renowned Tahltan-Tlingit artist Dempsey Bob. Carved from yellow cedar, the work embodies both a personal milestone and a timeless story.

Flowing through the currents of the wood, three Salmon move as life-givers, sustaining Eagle, who soars above the waters; Bear, who guards the forests; and Human, who carries forth the teachings of the ancestors.

Here, Salmon is more than nourishment, it is renewal and abundance. It is the shared gift that reminds Eagle, Bear, and Human that survival is never solitary, but interwoven. By offering themselves, Salmon renew the circle of life, and in turn, all beings carry forward the responsibility of gratitude and care.

Morberg’s carving is a story in motion, where polished copper eyes gleam with endurance and the wealth of spirit. Under the guidance of Dempsey Bob, The Salmon’s Gift becomes not only a work of art, but a living teaching: that true strength lies in reciprocity, and that the gift of Salmon endures in the balance between land, water, and all who depend upon them.