Band is hoping to preserve and revitalize heritage through its music

Indigenous roots and rock and roll band Saltwater Hank is taking the stage at Anvil Theatre in New Westminster, B.C. on Dec. 7.

The Ts'msyen front man, Jeremy Pahl, along with his band members will be sharing the language of Sm'algya̱x and cultural stories through their music as a commitment to preserving and revitalizing the Indigenous heritage.

“I’m really passionate about keeping our language going,” Paul said. “We don’t have too many speakers left and it’s just kind of a race against time while our Elders are still around. There’s not too many of us that are stepping up to the plate so to speak.”

Pahl explained the lyrics on Saltwater Hanks’ most recent album Siip'nsk are inspired from stories and experiences shared with him from Elders from his community of Hartley Bay in B.C.

The nine-track album is completely in Sm'algya̱x.

“It’s a lot to do with things that I’ve learned, things that I’ve learned from Elders back home to do with harvesting or just the way that our ancestors’ worldview was and continues to be, but especially before contact,” Pahl said.

His interest in the time period prior to colonization is based on his desire to learn the historical ways his community governed themselves and how they supported themselves.

He wants to learn the details of how Ts'msyen people engaged with the lands and the waters, which they have occupied on the western coast of Canada for more than 10,000 years.

The self-taught singer and guitar player began his career when he was only 11 years old. Paul, who is now 35, explained when he was 17 he had a strong curiosity and eagerness to learn his ancestral language.

Pahl said he became more invested into learning and speaking the Sm’algyax language during the past five years.

“I didn’t have to go through a curriculum,” he said. “I didn’t do any tests. I didn’t have exams. I didn’t have a classroom. The classroom was just sitting around the table with Elders and just asking them questions and not speaking English and trying to respond the best that I could.” Pahl is not only performing in his ancestral language these days but he also volunteers at the Ts'msyen Cultural Society when he is at his current home of Prince Rupert, B.C.

He facilitates programming for people who also want to learn the Sm’algyax language on their own or as a family.

When entire families begin to speak the language at home, Pahl said “that’s where it really seems to survive well,” adding “they’re going to be able to keep it forever.”

He also works on taking old recordings from museums of Elders and digitizing, translating and transcribing them.

Pahl believes revitalizing the language offers more than just the act of speaking. He believes it’s the first step into opening the door to restoring other cultural practices and beliefs.

“Having the proficiency in the language that I have now, I see the world around me differently and it’s really hard to explain,” he said. “I’m only able to relate on that subject to others who have gone through the same experience.”

Pahl added “it’s a very different way of engaging with your surroundings. By thinking about it in the language but also just like how it’s put and how so much of our language is a reflection of place and a reflection of the people who use it and the culture that it comes from.”

This is the essence behind the music of Saltwater Hank.

“The Ts'msyen that live here, there and everywhere for one reason or another end up getting to connect to themselves through my music which feels really good,” Pahl said.

Drummer, Danny Bell, has been playing with Pahl for more than 12 years and supports his longtime friend on this linguistic journey.

He said he hopes the audience at the Anvil Theatre will walk away from the show with a love for the music and a desire to learn more about the language and culture it highlights.

“I hope they come away with some new knowledge about what’s going on in the area where Jeremy lives and what’s going on with the language and just hear the stories,” Bell said. “I think that’s the important thing, is just to share the stories and hear the stories and then to tell other people about it.”

For more information on the upcoming concert visit Saltwater Hank Trio - Anvil Theatre

Saltwater Hank’s songs can be heard on various platforms including bandcamp Siip'nsk | Saltwater Hank.