Post by Okwes on Jul 21, 2006 11:11:31 GMT -5
Tribal members celebrate old ways
Celebration at Spee-Bi-Dah focuses on fishing and is open to the public
By Krista J. Kapralos
Herald Writer
TULALIP - If you head north, out beyond Tulalip Bay and look east, up toward a hill about 300 feet from the beach, you can see it: Spee-Bi-Dah.
It's a rock up on the pinnacle of the hill, said Tulalip Tribes board chairman Stan Jones Sr.
"From out on the water, it looks like a lady holding a baby," Jones said.
When it was discovered, so long ago that no one seems to remember when, it was named Spee-Bi-Dah, a phrase that means "small child" in Lushootseed, the primary Salish language of Northwest coastal American Indians.
"Before I go fishing I go over there and visit Spee-Bi-Dah first," Jones said. "Maybe I'll catch more fish that way."
This weekend, Tulalip tribal members will celebrate the old days and the old ways at Spee-Bi-Dah Beach, the stretch of sand just below the rock that tribal fishermen look toward when they leave for fishing trips.
Tribal members will do beach seining, a traditional fishing method that employs wide nets in the shallow waters near the beach. They will catch salmon to serve alongside crab, clam, mussels and shrimp at a midday feast on Saturday and Sunday.
Starting tonight, tribal members will pitch tents at Spee-Bi-Dah beach for a community weekend near the water.
Tribal members used to spend several weeks each summer camped out at the beach to celebrate the return of the salmon.
"We stayed in tents, and had makeshift cooking sheds, and we lived out there on the beach for at least three weeks," Jones said. "I fished with my uncle there in 1951, and then did it myself starting in 1952."
The annual celebration reached its peak during years when the tribes and most tribal families had little money, said Les Parks, a former tribal board member.
"We used to do this kind of stuff all the time when we were kids," Parks said. "We didn't have the money, but we came together as a tribe. The elders wanted to do something that would make the kids happy."
The tradition faded as the tribes became more financially successful.
The Tulalip Boys and Girls Club revived the Spee-Bi-Dah celebration several years ago as a youth activity. In 2004, Parks went out to help the club one evening during the event. He stood out on the beach and was overwhelmed with memories.
Last year, Spee-Bi-Dah was open to everyone for the first time in recent memory.
"This is all about community and history," Parks said. "Fishing is who we are as a people."
Spee-Bi-Dah 2006
Spee-Bi-Dah 2006 will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Spee-Bi-Dah Beach on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Tribal members will begin pitching tents for the weekend celebration tonight.
Everyone is welcome.
Fresh fish and crab, caught by tribal members using traditional beach seining methods, will be served throughout both days.
Clams, mussels and shrimp will be served each day at 2 p.m.
A group photo will be taken at 2:30 p.m. each day.
Transportation will be available from Totem Beach near the Tulalip Tribal Center out to Spee-Bi-Dah Beach.
All children must be accompanied by an adult. No alcohol will be allowed at the event.
Spee-Bi-Dah is one of several tribal events throughout the year that are open to the public. The Salmon Ceremony, held last month to welcome the salmon and kick off the summer fishing season, drew more than 1,000 guests to the reservation.
Celebration at Spee-Bi-Dah focuses on fishing and is open to the public
By Krista J. Kapralos
Herald Writer
TULALIP - If you head north, out beyond Tulalip Bay and look east, up toward a hill about 300 feet from the beach, you can see it: Spee-Bi-Dah.
It's a rock up on the pinnacle of the hill, said Tulalip Tribes board chairman Stan Jones Sr.
"From out on the water, it looks like a lady holding a baby," Jones said.
When it was discovered, so long ago that no one seems to remember when, it was named Spee-Bi-Dah, a phrase that means "small child" in Lushootseed, the primary Salish language of Northwest coastal American Indians.
"Before I go fishing I go over there and visit Spee-Bi-Dah first," Jones said. "Maybe I'll catch more fish that way."
This weekend, Tulalip tribal members will celebrate the old days and the old ways at Spee-Bi-Dah Beach, the stretch of sand just below the rock that tribal fishermen look toward when they leave for fishing trips.
Tribal members will do beach seining, a traditional fishing method that employs wide nets in the shallow waters near the beach. They will catch salmon to serve alongside crab, clam, mussels and shrimp at a midday feast on Saturday and Sunday.
Starting tonight, tribal members will pitch tents at Spee-Bi-Dah beach for a community weekend near the water.
Tribal members used to spend several weeks each summer camped out at the beach to celebrate the return of the salmon.
"We stayed in tents, and had makeshift cooking sheds, and we lived out there on the beach for at least three weeks," Jones said. "I fished with my uncle there in 1951, and then did it myself starting in 1952."
The annual celebration reached its peak during years when the tribes and most tribal families had little money, said Les Parks, a former tribal board member.
"We used to do this kind of stuff all the time when we were kids," Parks said. "We didn't have the money, but we came together as a tribe. The elders wanted to do something that would make the kids happy."
The tradition faded as the tribes became more financially successful.
The Tulalip Boys and Girls Club revived the Spee-Bi-Dah celebration several years ago as a youth activity. In 2004, Parks went out to help the club one evening during the event. He stood out on the beach and was overwhelmed with memories.
Last year, Spee-Bi-Dah was open to everyone for the first time in recent memory.
"This is all about community and history," Parks said. "Fishing is who we are as a people."
Spee-Bi-Dah 2006
Spee-Bi-Dah 2006 will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at Spee-Bi-Dah Beach on the Tulalip Indian Reservation. Tribal members will begin pitching tents for the weekend celebration tonight.
Everyone is welcome.
Fresh fish and crab, caught by tribal members using traditional beach seining methods, will be served throughout both days.
Clams, mussels and shrimp will be served each day at 2 p.m.
A group photo will be taken at 2:30 p.m. each day.
Transportation will be available from Totem Beach near the Tulalip Tribal Center out to Spee-Bi-Dah Beach.
All children must be accompanied by an adult. No alcohol will be allowed at the event.
Spee-Bi-Dah is one of several tribal events throughout the year that are open to the public. The Salmon Ceremony, held last month to welcome the salmon and kick off the summer fishing season, drew more than 1,000 guests to the reservation.