Welcoming Salmon Home
It all started when Rob Crandall of Methow Natives reached out to tribal members hosting the annual Salmon Ceremony at Kettle Falls and asked what was needed.
It all started when Rob Crandall of Methow Natives reached out to tribal members hosting the annual Salmon Ceremony at Kettle Falls and asked what was needed. Less than a week later, volunteers from the Methow Valley were transporting food lovingly grown, prepped, and cooked in the Methow Valley.
How it all came together so quickly is a testament to Methow Valley collaborations and the amazing network of local food producers we have here in the valley. Methow Valley Interpretive Center led the effort, Room One coordinated volunteers, Methow Valley Food Shedconnected growers, andChef Maria Hineswalked through the farmers market in Twisp to talk with growers directly. Maria collaborated with her longtime cooking partner and local tribal member Bobbi Mollenbergon a menu.
As they have since time immemorial, the tribes sang the salmon home up the Columbia River and gave ceremonial offerings to the 300 tribal members in attendance. The Canoe Journey began up in the traditional lands of the Sinixt Nation and included paddlers from Colville Tribes, Sandpoint, Spokane, Entiat, and more. Many tribes along the Columbia River and across the Colville-Okanogan speak sn-səlxcin, a language that has been shared since long before international borders existed.
As the ceremony program created by the Inchelium Language and Culture Association shares, "all prayers for salmon and water along the Columbia River are good." We invite you to create one of the dishes below, or any meal from fresh seasonal ingredients, with love in your heart and healing prayers for our land, waters, and relationships with each other.