With the collaboration and blessing of Grandmother Agnus Baker Pilgrim, of the International Council of Thirteen Indigenous Grandmothers, Debbie designed the “Riverkeeper” sculpture. Each piece carries Grandma Aggie’s prayer to protect those who hold them and gives voice to the waters of our Earth. The Riverkeeper Totem is an image of Grandmother Aggie, calling the salmon home.

A small hole in the bottom of the Riverkeeper Totem holds a cloth for collecting drops of sacred water and acknowledging it as a living being. A beautiful way to carry the water essence from any sacred site or ceremony. Leave the cloth in place. As the water wicks into her body, she holds the living vibration and magnetism of each place and experience.

Each piece carries Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim's blessing.

We had the great privilege of Grandma Aggie's presence at Bell Pine Art Farm where she bestowed blessings and prayers on our studio and in particular gave the above blessing for our Riverkeeper totem to carry.  Grandmother Agnes Baker Pilgrim is part of the International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers and the Grandmother's Wisdom Project.

Sacred Salmon Ceremony

A ceremony to welcome, bless and thank the returning salmon each year was held by the Takelma tribe, as well as many other Native tribes in the Northwest United States and Canada. However, for 140 years, due to the loss of traditional ways, the ceremony was not performed publicly by the Takelma tribe. To revive the ceremony, Grandma Aggie and her late husband Grant Pilgrim (Yurok tribe), visited with area tribes that continued to perform this ceremony. Following numerous visits to ceremonial and spiritual gatherings of northwest tribes, they brought back their version of the ceremony to Southern Oregon. Due to Grandma Aggie's contribution in returning the Salmon Ceremony to Jackson County, she is known to some locals as the 'Keeper of the Sacred Salmon Ceremony.'

A great deal of interest ensued by National Geographic and the World Wildlife Fund due to the unprecedented increase in salmon seen in the river since the ceremony has been performed.