An outstanding opportunity to experience NW Tribal Culture

News releases from the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, (360) 902-8500
Don Hoch, Director

Media contact:
Jack Hartt, Deception Pass State Park, (360) 675-3767
Leslie Eastwood, Samish Indian Nation, (360) 293-6404
Virginia Painter, State Parks Public Affairs Office (360) 902-8562

Celebrate Native American culture and 100 years of state parks at Deception Pass June 8
OLYMPIA – May 13, 2013 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission invites the public to attend the Eighth Annual Salish Sea Native American Culture Celebration with the Samish and Swinomish tribes.

The celebration runs from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 8, at the Bowman Bay picnic area on the Fidalgo Island side of Deception Pass State Park, 41020 State Route 20, Oak Harbor. The event celebrates the maritime heritage of the two participating Coast Salish tribes. This year’s event also commemorates the 100th birthday of the Washington state park system, which was created by the Legislature in 1913.

The June 8 event will feature canoe rides and native singers, drummers and storytellers. Artists from the two tribes will demonstrate traditional weaving, cedar work and woodcarving. A salmon and frybread lunch also will be available for purchase. The Discover Pass is not required to attend the event. In recognition of National Get Outdoors Day, Saturday, June 8 is a State Parks “free day,” when visitors to state parks are not required to display a Discover Pass.

Cultural event activities are presented by the Samish Indian Nation, the Samish Canoe Family, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and the Swinomish Canoe Family. Proceeds from food sales at the Salish Sea Native American Culture Celebration support the Samish and Swinomish canoe families’ participation in the annual intertribal canoe journey; each year, tribes and nations from the Pacific Northwest travel by canoe to different host communities along the Salish Sea. This year, the Quinault Tribe plays host to the intertribal canoe journey, which lands in Taholah on August 1. For more information about this year’s canoe journey, visit www.paddletoquinault.org.

The event is accessible to persons with disabilities. If special accommodations are required in order to attend the event, please call (360) 902-8626 or (360) 675-3767 or the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service at (800) 833-6388. Requests must be made in advance.

The Salish Sea Native American Culture Celebration is part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures and presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program. The program is a partnership between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Arts Commission and Northwest Heritage Resources with funding provided by National Endowment for the Arts and the Washington State Parks Foundation.

Deception Pass State Park is a 4,134-acre marine and camping park with 77,000 feet of saltwater of shoreline, and 33,900 feet of freshwater shoreline on three lakes. The park is best known for views of Deception Pass and Bowman Bay, old-growth forests, abundant wildlife and the historic Deception Pass Bridge.

Stay connected to your state parks by following Washington State Parks at www.facebook.com/WashingtonStateParks, www.twitter.com/WaStatePks_NEWS and www.youtube.com/WashingtonStateParks. Share your favorite state park adventure on the new State Parks’ blog site at www.AdventureAwaits.com.

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Roger Dodger, you old Codger, how does your garden grow? Sorry honey but it rhymes.

Well it's springtime in Washington.  The geese are back to Lake Burien. The flowers are blooming and the cherry tree in the front yard is raining blossoms all over my car.  The weather has been downright weird this spring. A couple of weeks ago we had a hot spell and tied with Phoenix one day as the hottest city in the country at 86 degrees. It was a beautiful and sunny Easter.  Last week it was in the fifties and rainy and still is.  Right now it is forty six degrees and getting ready to rain. Maybe some hail too according to the weatherman. Yay! I just love the forty five minute commute in the rain every day!

This spring we have decided to join the growing population of urban farmers.  Roger has spent a good deal of time digging up the back yard and we now have a nice sized garden.  With all of the chemicals and pesticides used on our food we are looking forward to fresh and organic fruits and veggies.  There is nothing like picking something from the garden and serving it for dinner. And there is certainly no GMO in our garden!

Lots of little plants starting to grow!

Tomato Plants

Break time!

New Bar B Que grill.

In addition to planting a garden we have supplied the yard with a new picnic table and fire pit.  As well as some new outdoor furniture and a Barbeque.  We plan on enjoying the outdoors much more this summer, should it ever arrive. 

Getting ready for our first Barbeque on the new grill.

The flowers are making a comeback

Peas are popping up

Got the fire pit going and the wine poured!

Blackberries along the side fence.

Charlie on patrol!

This is going to be a great summer and I look forward to all of our fruits and veggies growing. Aside from the garden which contains everything from lettuces and tomatoes to peas and beans, broccoli and cauliflower, peppers ,cucumbers, carrots, radishes, leeks, watermelon and corn. We also have blackberry and raspberry bushes, apple trees, a pear tree, a cherry tree and an herb garden.  Should be lots to eat later in the summer. All we need now is a bacon bush and we're all set!