For the 2nd speaker in the 2019 Coast Salish Speaker Series, we welcome Swil Kanim, US Army Veteran, classically trained violinist, native storyteller and actor. Swil Kanim is a member of the Lummi Nation. He travels extensively throughout the United States, performing his original composition music and native storytelling. Swil Kanim considers himself and his music to be the product of a well supported public school music program. Music and the performance of music helped him to process the traumas associated with his early placement into the foster care system. His compositions incorporate classical influences as well as musical interpretations of his journey from depression and despair to spiritual and emotional freedom. The music and stories that emerge from his experiences have been transforming people’s lives for decades.
The 2019 Coast Salish Speaker Series is an educational project focusing on connecting the current residents of and visitors to the San Juan Islands with the Native history of this region. It is a collaborative endeavor amongst the Lopez, Orcas, and San Juan Islands’ public libraries and the San Juan Islands National Monument. After his performance at the Lopez Center, Swil Kanim will travel to San Juan and Orcas Islands to present at their respective public libraries. The series will include two more Coast Salish speakers throughout the summer months of 2019. The Speaker Series is a project funded largely by the San Juan County Lodging Tax grant. For any questions about the series, please contact Malia Sanford at malia@lopezlibrary.org.