Tanada

Description:

The Tanadah “Salmon Run” Pavilion design is guided by the architecture of a Tāłtān smokehouse, flowing like the currents of our rivers to celebrate the reverence, respect, and deep relationship Tahltan people have with the salmon.

The pavilion features a regional in-depth map of the Tlēgōhīn/Telegraph Creek area and Tāłtān placenames, cultural stories and artwork mounted to an abstracted smokehouse structure. The frame is made of rusted metal, a colour chosen because our Tāłtān Ancestors used iron oxide to make red paint. It is the colour of our mountains, and it makes our blood red, too—showing that we are both spiritually and physically connected to the land. 

Burnt timber from the 2018 Alkali Lake forest fire are used as infill walls and rafters, bringing a striking black colour that resembles blackened smokehouse poles and sparkling obsidian. Inspired by Yakisugi, a traditional Japanese wood preservation technique involving the process of charring the surface of the wood is much like the natural preservation seen in forest fires, where the charring creates a protective layer. This technique enhances the wood's durability and makes it resistant to fire, insects, and decay, resulting in a very long-lasting product. The process is both beautiful and highly effective at maintaining long-term structural integrity.

Luminous Return, Dēk’āne, Sockeye and Gēs, King Salmon by Tsēmā appear to be “swimming” up the current and between the content panels interspersed along the structure.