pesk'a

Hummingbird

Stand by a feeder on a warm afternoon and you'll hear the pesk'a before you see it. A small whir, a pause, and there it is, hanging in the air an arm's length away, deciding whether you're worth its time. Pesk'a is hummingbird in Halq'eméylem, the language of the Stó:lō people, and once one has clocked your feeder it comes back again and again, because a hummingbird remembers every good flower it has ever found.

The orange ones are Rufous, and they have a reputation. A Rufous weighs less than a five-cent piece and will still chase off a bird twice its size, then sit on a branch daring it to come back. They cross the better part of a continent twice a year to spend a few months here, which is a lot of nerve for something that small. The green ones are Anna's, around all year now, flashing a colour that won't sit still. Look again a second later and the same bird has changed.

A brown hummingbird hovering near an orange flower in daylight.
A green and black hummingbird flying with wings outstretched.

For a lot of people on this coast, the first hummingbird of the year is how you know spring has really arrived. In Coast Salish art the hummingbird is a messenger of joy. There's a story that gets told about why it never stops moving from flower to flower: it was sent to thank the flowers for making the world a nicer place, and it just never finished the job.

So hang a feeder, leave the window open, and wait. Sooner or later one shows up, and the rest takes care of itself. Kw'atset te p'esk'a, goes the Halq'eméylem phrase: look at the hummingbird.

In the Hummingbird collection

35 of 35 pieces by Indigenous artists

Black t-shirt with teal bird and flower design worn by a person

T-Shirt - Hummingbird

From $28.00

Person wearing a purple t-shirt with a bird design

T-shirt - Infinite Joy

From $28.00

Sold out
Decorative design of a purple hummingbird and pink flowers on a beige cloth

Eco Cloth - Hummingbird

$6.00

Two white bowls with purple floral covers

Reusable Bowl Covers - Hummingbirds

$18.99

Purple notebook with an Indigenous hummingbird design and pink flowers

Journal - Hummingbird

$14.99

Hummingbird (Nenookaasi) 30oz easy-carry insulated tumbler by Storm Angeconeb

Easy-Carry Insulated Tumbler (30oz) - Hummingbird (Nenookaasi)

$46.99

Purple and pink sticker of and Indigenous design hummingbird and flowers with Canada named below

Sticker - Hummingbird (Canada)

$5.49

Bamboo salad servers with hummingbird and floral designs

Bamboo Servers - Hummingbirds

$18.99

Double walled Glass Mug with Indigenous Design Hummingbird By Simone Diamond displayed in front a white background

Double Walled Coloured Glass Mug - Hummingbird

$27.00

Sold out
Notebook with hummingbird and floral design

Journal - Hummingbird (Nenookaasi)

$14.99

Sold out
10inch bamboo bowl with a hummingbird and flower design

Bamboo Bowl 10" - Hummingbirds

$33.99

Purple porcelain art mug with floral and hummingbird design

Porcelain Art Mug - Hummingbird

$18.99

Sold out
Purple pants with Indigenous floral and hummingbird design

Comfy Pants - Hummingbird

From $20.00

Sold out
Hummingbirds 30oz easy-carry insulated tumbler by Paul Windsor

Easy-Carry Insulated Tumbler (30oz) - Hummingbirds

$46.99

Sold out
Hummingbird wooden layered art by Spirit Bear Design, hand painted

Hummingbird Wooden Layered Art

$36.99

Amethyst stone with an Indigenous hummingbird etched into the piece

Spirit Stone - Amethyst Hummingbird

$7.99

Pink Hummingbird sunglasses with design of hummingbird by Indigenous Artist Paul Windsor

Women's Sunglasses (Duotone) - Hummingbird

$22.00

Round white spirit stone with brown Indigenous hummingbird heart design

Spirit Stone - Rose Quartz Hummingbird Heart

$7.99

Sold out
Indigenous Artwork Pen by Paul Windsor displayed in front of a white background

Pen - Hummingbird

$5.99

Sold out
Coast Salish floral and hummingbird patterned apron on a mannequin

Apron - Hummingbirds

$24.00

Sold out
Silver Brushed Copper Bracelet - Hummingbirds by Paul Windsor (Haisla Heiltsuk)

Silver Brushed Copper Bracelet - Hummingbirds

$28.00

Flower-shaped eco sponge with a pink, purple and teal hummingbird over a lavender flower, designed by Nicole La Rock, on a natural sponge

Eco Sponges - Hummingbird

$3.49

Sold out
Hummingbird (Nenookaasi) passport holder in golden yellow vegan leather, designed by Storm Angeconeb, with two green hummingbirds, red and white flowers, bees and ladybugs

Passport Holder - Hummingbird (Nenookaasi)

$18.99

Hummingbird Panel Earrings by Karen Francis. Sterling silver.

Hummingbird Panel Earrings by Karen Francis

$200.00

Potholder - Hummingbird

Potholder - Hummingbird

$13.00

Sold out
Oven Mitt - Hummingbird

Oven Mitt - Hummingbird

$15.00

Sold out
Yellow tote bag with hummingbird and floral pattern with it's feature foldable pouch displayed

Packable Tote Bag - Hummingbird (Nenookaasi)

$33.99

Hummingbirds design tea towel by Coast Salish artist Nicole La Rock, unbleached cotton

Printed Tea Towel - Hummingbirds

$13.99

20oz big ceramic mug with Hummingbird design by Deanna Samuel

Big Ceramic Mug (20oz) - Hummingbird by Deanna Samuel

$18.99

1000 piece jigsaw puzzle with Hummingbirds design by various Indigenous artists

1000 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle - Hummingbirds

$25.99

Natural cotton tea towel with green hummingbirds, red and grey flowers, bees and ladybugs, with golden-yellow patterned borders, designed by Storm Angeconeb

Printed Tea Towel - Hummingbird (Nenookaasi)

$13.99

Sold out
Set of two organic cotton mesh produce bags with a Hummingbirds design by Nicole La Rock

Set of 2 Reusable Produce Bags - Hummingbirds

$16.99

Sold out
Hummingbird in Flight Pendant by John Velten. Sterling silver.

Hummingbird in Flight Pendant by John Velten

$220.00

Art Socks - Hummingbird

Art Socks - Hummingbird

$18.99

Copper Plated Bracelet - Hummingbird by Gordon White (Haida)

Copper Plated Bracelet - Hummingbird

$28.00