The Sliammon people flourished in a land abundant with resources.
They were able to make use of this abundance with efficient
technology. But there was a lot more to catching a fish than being
able to make the right hook. Their intimate knowledge of their
country, weather patterns, water levels and even the effect of the
moon on fish and animal behavior enabled them to plan carefully
their daily and seasonal acquisition and preparation of food. And,
in addition, they co-operated with eachother and they shared.
 

The late Rose Mitchell remembers well what her father used to say
about sharing food:
 

The old people always shared with one another. My father used to
tell us about the generosity of the old-time native people, as he
hoped that we would follow their example. After dinner we would lie
down and listen to my father's stories until late at night. He told
us about a man who went out hunting deer. When the hunter returned
home, his wife skinned the deer and distributed it to the people.
By the time she had finished giving it out, there was only a small
piece left for herself. The next day someone else went hunting. It
was always like that in the old days. And the people would also go
out clam digging. They made sure that they got enough clams for
everyone. When they got home, they cooked the clams by barbecuing
them on a stick and drying them. Then each family was given some
clams-each person got one stick, which was about two feet [60 cm.]
long. The women would sometimes go hunting with the men. They
roasted the meat over a fire and then packed it home in large
baskets. Then the children were called to collect their family's
food.
          

This salmon ceremony is only one of several rituals associated with
salmon. One important ritual involved always throwing back the
spring salmon bones back into the water, where they would come alive
again, the Sliammon people believed, and provide more fish for their
people.
 

The following legend, told by the late Ambruce Wilson, explains the
origin of this belief:
 

Raven and a friend were invited to dinner at the village of the fish.
Two children, a boy and a girl, were sent into the water and, shortly
after, Raven was given his salmon dinner. Raven ate his meal, but
instead of putting all the bones on his plate, he kept a small bone
from the salmon's head in his mouth. The remaining bones were gathered
up and thrown back into the water, where they changed back into the
little children. The boy was okay, but the little girl couldn't open
her eyes. The parents knew that a bone had not been put on the plate
and began to look for it. They searched all over. Suddenly, Raven
pulled the bone out of his mouth, and remarked, "Maybe, this is the
one!" They told the little girl to go back into the water and then
threw the missing bone in after her. When she came out she was whole
again. That is why you must always throw the salmon bones back into
the ocean.