Arts & Entertainment Community Government

‘Our Fisherman, Our Guardian’ statue to be unveiled Sept. 15

A 14-foot statue honoring the area’s original inhabitants will be unveiled in a ceremony scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 15.

The city of Gig Harbor announced the unveiling and blessing ceremony late on the afternoon of Friday, Sept. 2. The statue itself — called “Our Fisherman, Our Guardian” — was installed at Austin Park at txʷaalqəł Estuary on Aug. 10.

Artist Guy Capoeman, left, and his son Cecil with “Our Fisherman, Our Guardian.” Charlee Glock-Jackson

Puyallup Tribal Councilmember Anna Bean will lead her nation’s delegation at the ceremony. The the sx̌ʷəbabš band of the Puyallup Tribe are the original inhabitants of the Gig Harbor area.

Guy Capoeman, the artist who carved the statue and president of the Quinault Nation, will attend the ceremony. So will Gig Harbor Mayor Tracie Markley.

The celebration will include dancing, drummers, a tribal blessing and an appearance by a traditional cedar canoe.

The carved cedar figure depicts a Native American holding a large salmon, flanked by a canoe on each side. It came about as a collaboration among the Puyallups, the city of Gig Harbor and its arts commission, and the Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor.

Gig Harbor Public Works crews prepare to wrap the new carving on Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022. Charlee Glock-Jackson