Remembering Micah and Honoring his Legacy at Kus-kus-sum
The Micah Messent Legacy Fund Salmon with family at Kus-kus-sum by C. Holbrook
Micah was born and raised in the Comox Valley where the Pacific Ocean, our coastal mountains, and the ancient rainforest of Vancouver Island nurtured and inspired him. Tragically, he died at the age of 23 in a plane crash in Ethiopia, Africa on March 10, 2019.
Helping and supporting people and taking care of the natural environment were some of the most important goals in Micah’s life from a very young age. He would have been pleased to know that in his memory he would be supporting the restoration of Kus-kus-sum, and that through the legacy funding he will continue to support thriving and diverse ecosystems in his home community.
On August 9th, Micah’s family joined Project Watershed to hang a salmon in his memory on the Kus-kus-sum fence. The salmon, designed and painted by his mother Suzanne Camp, has been decorated with design elements that are significant to Micah’s family. The Métis sash represents their family’s ancestry. The heart design on the white diamond is an illustration of the white leather patches with red glass hearts which were given to the people in memory of Micah. The five eagle feathers on the tail fin represent Micah and each of his sisters, Jade Ballard and Amber Tansky, and his brothers, Matt and Jasper Messent. We hope that the next time you drive by, you’re able to see Micah’s salmon, and remember the many ways he contributed to our community.
~ Writen by Caitlin Pierzchalski and Suzanne Camp