When we were young and naïve, we used to think rock and roll could save the world. The jury’s still out on that one, but in the meantime, there’s every reason to believe it can win battles that are smaller but no less urgent. 

That’s become the musical mission of Saltwater Hank, the Indigenous roots artist whose new album, Siip’nsk, continues his quest to preserve the Sm’algya̱x language in song. The mother tongue of the Ts’msyen people of Hank’s native La̱x Kxeen a.k.a Prince Rupert, BC. Now here comes Siip’nsk. With every syllable sung in Sm’algya̱x and the music seamlessly interweaving traditional Ts’msyen words and melodies with the instrumental moves of classic rock and blues, the album will find its home by slipping it into the ears of listeners far and wide.