19^th Annual Salmon Homecoming Celebration

School Days • Pow Wow • Salmon Bake • Native Dance • Arts & Crafts

WHAT:  Waterfront Park in Seattle will come alive with the sounds of over 1000 schoolchildren, teachers, artists, scientists, vendors, volunteers, Native American dancing, drums and singing. The Salmon Homecoming Alliance, a coalition of local tribes, City of Seattle, state, and county agencies and NGOs from across the Puget Sound are hosting a three-day festival celebrating Native culture and the importance of salmon to the people of our region – culturally, economically, environmentally & spiritually.

Join us to celebrate one of the most treasured parts of Seattle’s heritage. Friday evening performances begin at 6pm and will feature well-known Northwest and Alaska Native Dance Groups as well as the world famous Aztec Dancers. You’ll be able to purchase a freshly cooked salmon dinner to enjoy during the free performances. On Saturday the celebration kicks off with a traditional tribal canoe welcoming ceremony at 10am, followed by a pow wow, coastal drumming and dancing, plus food and arts & crafts vendors. The festival is free, fun for the entire family and not to be missed!

WHERE: Waterfront Park, Pier 57, 1301 Alaskan Way 

WHEN: School Day Environmental Displays: Friday, Sept.15-16, 9:30am – 1:30pm

Dancing, drumming, salmon bake, arts & craft vendors and more: Friday – Saturday. See our web site, salmonhomecoming.org for a detailed schedule.

Salmon Homecoming Celebration 2011 is sponsored by: Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, Seattle Aquarium, Tulalip Tribes, Seattle Public Utilities, Lummi Tribe, Seattle City Light, Seattle Department of Parks & Recreation, Squaxin Island Tribe, Upper Skagit Tribe, Washington Forest Protection Agency, CANOES- City of Seattle Native Employees, Stillaguamish Tribe, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, King County, Washington State Department of Ecology and Puget Sound Partnership.

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Contact: Laura Austin, l [dot] austin [at] seattleaquarium [dot] org, 206.386.4329
Walter Pacheco, walter [dot] pacheco [at] muckleshoot [dot] nsn [dot] us, 253-876-3153

This year’s celebration theme is “The Habitat Is Where It’s At,” reflecting the  great need for people to reach out to each other and work together to restore and protect our environment from such economic and ecological tragedies as the Gulf of Mexico oil spill and the acidification of our water.

Each year the celebration provides a unique environmental educational experience for hundreds of  tribal and non-tribal students and their teachers, and features environmental exhibits, cultural events, arts and crafts, vendors, a salmon bake and a vibrant “coastal jam” with local tribes and indigenous groups. The Salmon Homecoming Alliance sponsors the annual celebration to build bridges of understanding and to help people from all walks of life understand their connection with the environment, salmon, Puget Sound, and the natural environment.

Salmon Homecoming President Walter Pacheco of the Muckleshoot Indian Nation said, “We face many environmental challenges in the Pacific Northwest. Salmon Homecoming brings people together to build team spirit, protect the environment and create an atmosphere in which we can find solutions together.”

“What we all need to realize is that the environment, education and the economy are all connected,” said Billy Frank, Jr., chief advisor to the Salmon Homecoming and Chairman of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission—one of the key sponsors of the Salmon Homecoming Celebration. “By solving our environmental challenges, and engaging people of all ages and ethnic backgrounds in those solutions, we strengthen our ability to build sustainable prosperity for everyone.”

“The Salmon Homecoming Celebration is presented by the Salmon Homecoming Alliance, the Muckleshoot, Tulalip, Lummi and other tribes of western Washington, the Seattle Aquarium, King County, Seattle Public Utilities, Seattle City Light, Seattle Parks and Recreation, the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, the Department of Ecology and the Washington Forest Protection Association.

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Contact:

• Steve Robinson, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission    360 951-2494
• Laura Austin, Seattle Aquarium  206 386-4329

Visit SalmonHomecoming.org for information.

American Indians joined with African, Asian, Hispanic, Caucasian and other Americans to craft a "Unity Accord" on the environment at the Salmon Homecoming Forum on Thursday, 9/11. The accord, signed by hundreds of concerned citizens, will be distributed to the president and Congress as well as the governor, the legislature, local and tribal governments and agencies and institutes of all kinds.

The common message conveyed, by consensus, by all participants in the forum was characterized by Salmon Homecoming President Gerald "G.I." James. "It’s time to prioritize the environment and protection of mother Earth over war and non-sustainable economic pursuits. It’s time to pursue an economy that respects the fragility of our natural resources so we’re considering the welfare of our children, seven generations and more into the future."

By joining efforts across all ethic and vocational lines, the signatories hope to be heard, and they plan to follow through to see that they are. (Unity Accord is attached).

"A muti-ethnic color guard, a tribal honor song and other activities commemorated 9/11 at our reception in a way that reached out to everyone with a message of peace and a commitment to restore the salmon," said James.

From Friday through Sunday, Waterfront Park, next to the Aquarium, came alive with tribal and multi-cultural celebration ranging from Canoe protocols and storytelling to carving and a pow wow, all under this year’s Salmon Homecoming theme, ""the drum beats for everyone."

"It’s our way of thanking the Creator for the gifts he has provided, helping people understand the tribes better, and make a stand for the world that sustains us," said James.
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Contact: 

Steve Robinson, Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, 360-528-4347, cell 360-951-2494, srobinson [at] nwifc [dot] org