Canoes arrive today in Swinomish

Gov. Gregoire paddles in the Salmon Dancer alongside Chairman Brian Cladoosby, left, and his father Mike Cladoosby.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire arrived on the shores of the Swinomish reservation today on the canoe Salmon Dancer with Swinomish Chairman Brian Cladoosby. Salmon Dancer was one of more than 100 canoes participating in the Tribal Canoe Journey.

View more photos of the landing on NWIFC’s Flickr feed.

Read more about the Canoe Journey and see photos of the landing last week at Port Gamble in the New York Times: (more…)

Continue ReadingCanoes arrive today in Swinomish

Tribes work together to provide salmon for families

Chum salmon is canned at the Swinomish Fish Co.
Salmon always has played an important part in tribal diets in western Washington. These days, with a disproportionate number of tribal members suffering from diabetes, eating salmon is more important than ever.

Unfortunately, with salmon runs in decline and fewer tribal members making their living as fishermen, the resource is harder to come by.

The Swinomish Fish Co. has long provided canned salmon to Swinomish tribal elders, and in recent years, has started providing it to the Suquamish and Tulalip tribes as well. (more…)

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Fraser River sockeye salmon returns among highest recorded

Treaty tribes in western Washington are having a bountiful Fraser River sockeye fishery this season, with at least three times the number of fish returning as expected. More than 30 million sockeye are estimated to return to the Fraser River in British Columbia this year – the highest run size recorded since 1913.

View photos of the fishery in the San Juan Islands on NWIFC’s Flickr feed.

Nine treaty tribes in western Washington have treaty-reserved rights to catch Fraser River sockeye in U.S. waters before they migrate upstream. The Fraser River sockeye treaty tribes are Lummi, Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower Elwha Klallam, Nooksack, Makah, Port Gamble S’Klallam, Suquamish, Swinomish and Tulalip. (more…)

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Video: Swinomish Tribe, state parks celebrate Kiket Island

In June 2010, the Swinomish Indian Tribal Community and Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission bought Kiket Island to co-manage as a state park. On July 30, 2010, representatives from the tribe and state gathered for a dedication ceremony.

Read the story here, and see Billy Frank Jr.’s column here.

You can watch a video of the celebration after the jump:
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Continue ReadingVideo: Swinomish Tribe, state parks celebrate Kiket Island