Smoke signals., June 01, 2018, Page 9, Image 9

S moke S ignals
JUNE 1, 2018
9
The arrival of
Summers
Tribal Cultural Advisor Bobby Mercier
places a seed fan on a table for display
during the Summers Collection welcome
event held at Chachalu Museum & Cultural
Center on Wednesday, May 23. Sixteen
items from the Summers Collection are on
loan from the British Museum in London,
England, and will be part of the “Rise of
the Collectors"
exhibit that
opens Tuesday,
June 5, at the
Tribe’s museum.
This seed basket is one of the items on loan from
the British Museum. In the background, also on
loan, is a bowl carved out of horn and a pair of
dance epaulettes made of leather.
Cynthia McGowan, assistant collections manager
at the British Museum, holds up a cooking basket
for Tribal Council member Kathleen George, second
from right, and Tribal Council Chairwoman Cheryle
A. Kennedy so that they can see the bottom.
Photos by Michelle Alaimo
‘It was an amazing experience’
FISHING continued
from page 8
served but didn’t do any fishing,”
he said. “On Tuesday, a few of the
staff weren’t able to make it so I was
asked if I wanted to jump in and
help out. I watched Mike Wilson cast
with the net for a few minutes, then
just tried to do it the way he did.
Within 10 minutes, I caught a fish.”
Drake said the experience was
filled with adrenaline and excite-
ment.
“It was definitely one of those
moments you don’t forget,” he said.
“It was an amazing experience and
I feel very blessed, fortunate and
happy.”
The group returned to Willamette
Falls to fish on Wednesday, May
30, but updates were not available
before press time.
Tribal Council Vice Chair Chris Mercier, left, talks with Clackamas County
Commissioner Ken Humberston, middle, as Clackamas County Commission
Chair Jim Bernard puts on a beaded necklace that was a gift from the Tribe
during the First Salmon Celebration held at the McLean House in West Linn
on Friday, May 18.
First salmon celebration
After the ceremonial first fish
was caught on Tuesday, May 15,
tradition called for it to be cooked
and eaten that evening. It was also
an opportunity for Tribal members
who could not attend the First
Salmon Celebration held Friday,
May 18, in West Linn to participate
in a cultural event in Grand Ronde.
As a result, the sixth First Salmon
Celebration at the McLean House in
West Linn was more a celebration
with Tribal Elder Greg Archuleta
and Tribal member Chris Rempel
preparing the fish, cooked over an
open fire and served on a cedar plank
for approximately 50 attendees.
“I am very thankful to be here
today and honor this fish,” Bobby
Mercier said. “We caught the first
fish the other day, took it home and
put the bones in our river there. To-
day, we’re here honoring the spirit
of that fish.”
Then, he, Krehbiel, Archuleta,
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
Rempel and Public Affairs Admin-
istrative Assistant Chelsea Clark
joined several other drummers
and singers for a song to honor the
salmon.
Tribal Council members in at-
tendance were Vice Chair Chris
Mercier, Denise Harvey, Kathleen
George, Brenda Tuomi and Michael
Langley, and Tribal attorney Rob
Greene.
Clackamas County Commission
Chair Jim Bernard and Commis-
sioner Ken Humberston also at-
tended.
Bobby Mercier led the invocation
and expressed thanks for the fish,
food and hands that prepared it.
After the blessing, the fish was
carried over to folding tables laden
with food and, as per tradition,
Elders were invited to eat first,
followed by everyone else.
Harvey, who attended with her
5-year-old granddaughter Hallie
Brewley, said she likes the event
location near the banks of the Wil-
lamette River on the grounds of the
historic house amid the gardens.
“I think it is just nice having peo-
ple gather to celebrate our salmon
and cultural traditions,” she said.
Brewley’s answer was more suc-
cinct. “I like to eat the salmon,”
she said.
It was Langley’s first time at the
event. He was elected to Tribal
Council in September 2017.
“I have always had to work be-
fore,” he said. “I’m excited to have
the opportunity to do this, to see
everyone and participate. The jour-
ney of the salmon itself, the leaving
and the returning, that is part of
our Tribe’s story. “
Afterward, Tribal Council mem-
bers Mercier and Harvey presented
gifts of sage and beaded necklaces
made by Clark to the commission-
ers. 