Post by Okwes on Sept 28, 2006 20:56:08 GMT -5
The Salmon Ceremony honors Indian tradition
BY PAULA M. FELIPE/Public Safety
Reporterhttp://www.chicoer.com/oroville/ci_4393032
<http://www.chicoer.com/oroville/ci_4393032>
<http://www.chicoer.com/oroville/ci_4393032#> DAVID C.
NEILSEN II/MERCURY-REGISTER John Clark assists Patsy Seek as she blesses
the first salmon during the First Salmon Ceremony at the Feather River
Nature Center. About 1,400 people enjoyed barbecued salmon with
traditional Indian music and dancing during the Salmon ceremony off Old
Ferry Road near the Feather River Nature Center Saturday. "The salmon
mean a great deal to us," said Patsy Seek, vice-chair of the event.
"Honoring the salmon is a tradition that goes back centuries, and we
want to keep it going. The ceremony is about keeping our culture alive,
and it is a great feeling for us. We have a great culture, and it keeps
us alive, too." At 10:30 a.m., the First Salmon, which had been caught
by spearfishing, was brought into the ceremony. Music and dancing
blessed the four corners of the earth � north, south, east, and
west. "The blessing is what it's all about," said Tony Smith, who
introduced the event. "The earth is our mother, and now I'm a
grandfather teaching my kids how to sing and dance. That is my gift to
the world." Seek conducted a healing ritual as people lined up for the
blessings during the "smudging" ceremony. "The smudging ritual is for
healing and cleansing the body and spirit," Seek explained. "Also, we
bless the circle before we do anything and cleanse it from any bad
spirits." Seek said the Salmon ceremony is a time when Indians and
people from all walks of life get together and bless the salmon coming
up the river. "It is a time we remember our ancestors and a celebration
of life," she said. Maidu and Cherokee dancers and singers joined
others in celebration, and many came from far away places, including
Yuba County, Sacramento, the Bay area, and Texas. A barbecued salmon
dinner was free for everyone, and Eric and Katie Josephson were the
cooks. "They always do an incredible job," Seek said. The salmon came
from the Feather River Fish Hatchery where it was cut into fillets and
stored in large refrigerator-freezers. Anna Kastner, manager of the
fish hatchery, works to provide the salmon to this special event. "The
fillets that were not eaten Saturday were frozen and will be given out
at a free fish give-a-away through the Gleaners in Oroville, Gridley,
and Paradise," Kastner said. "There were about 12,000 frozen fish
fillets left and will be divided up and sent to the Gleaners." Even the
carcasses of the salmon are not wasted and are sent to a community
action agency for rendering plants or back into the river for food for
fish, insects, or other animals. "Everything is used for a purpose.
Nothing is wasted, and that makes us feel good," she said. Kastner said
the ceremony used to take place at the Municipal Auditorium. "I had a
vision of having this next to the river and this is where it should be.
I've been watching the salmon for 10 years now coming up the river and
it's still so amazing to see thousands and thousands of salmon and to
see little kids mesmerized staring at the fish. And, some of the salmon
are bigger than some of the kids," she said with a smile. Kastner said
it's a lot of work to put on the event, but very worthwhile. "When you
see the smiles of kids and people looking happy, it gives you the
strength and energy to do it again next year. And, it's exciting. Dan
and Patsy did a great job bringing it together," she said. The event
also had several tents where wood, rock, and stone carvings, jewelry,
and clothing were being displayed and sold. Also, Indian Tacos and Fry
Bread were being sold for a fundraiser. The Salmon Ceremony also
received donations from the Enterprise, Mooretown, and Berry Creek
Rancherias, Seek said. Indian hand-games with bones and sticks were an
ancient tradition played by all ages. These games were played later in
the afternoon. Dan DeLeon, chair of the event, thanked Val Shadowhawk
for narrating the event on the microphone. "Val is with a big drum group
and I'm so grateful to have him here." DeLeon said he is especially
happy how the event brought his entire family back together again for a
reunion. "They came from all across the country and it was very healing
experience for not just my family, but beneficial for everyone involved.
People came from all over. We gather together to bless the river and the
salmon. This is a beautiful spot. It is open to everyone and Indian
people are coming together more. This ceremony gets bigger and is
growing every year," DeLeon said. "And, there were many people seeking
healing," Seek said. "This is not a pow-wow with competitive dancing,
this is a gathering and blessing of the Salmon and the river." To find
out how to donate or participate in next year's Salmon Ceremony, call:
(530) 533-1948, or (530) 533-1504.
BY PAULA M. FELIPE/Public Safety
Reporterhttp://www.chicoer.com/oroville/ci_4393032
<http://www.chicoer.com/oroville/ci_4393032>
<http://www.chicoer.com/oroville/ci_4393032#> DAVID C.
NEILSEN II/MERCURY-REGISTER John Clark assists Patsy Seek as she blesses
the first salmon during the First Salmon Ceremony at the Feather River
Nature Center. About 1,400 people enjoyed barbecued salmon with
traditional Indian music and dancing during the Salmon ceremony off Old
Ferry Road near the Feather River Nature Center Saturday. "The salmon
mean a great deal to us," said Patsy Seek, vice-chair of the event.
"Honoring the salmon is a tradition that goes back centuries, and we
want to keep it going. The ceremony is about keeping our culture alive,
and it is a great feeling for us. We have a great culture, and it keeps
us alive, too." At 10:30 a.m., the First Salmon, which had been caught
by spearfishing, was brought into the ceremony. Music and dancing
blessed the four corners of the earth � north, south, east, and
west. "The blessing is what it's all about," said Tony Smith, who
introduced the event. "The earth is our mother, and now I'm a
grandfather teaching my kids how to sing and dance. That is my gift to
the world." Seek conducted a healing ritual as people lined up for the
blessings during the "smudging" ceremony. "The smudging ritual is for
healing and cleansing the body and spirit," Seek explained. "Also, we
bless the circle before we do anything and cleanse it from any bad
spirits." Seek said the Salmon ceremony is a time when Indians and
people from all walks of life get together and bless the salmon coming
up the river. "It is a time we remember our ancestors and a celebration
of life," she said. Maidu and Cherokee dancers and singers joined
others in celebration, and many came from far away places, including
Yuba County, Sacramento, the Bay area, and Texas. A barbecued salmon
dinner was free for everyone, and Eric and Katie Josephson were the
cooks. "They always do an incredible job," Seek said. The salmon came
from the Feather River Fish Hatchery where it was cut into fillets and
stored in large refrigerator-freezers. Anna Kastner, manager of the
fish hatchery, works to provide the salmon to this special event. "The
fillets that were not eaten Saturday were frozen and will be given out
at a free fish give-a-away through the Gleaners in Oroville, Gridley,
and Paradise," Kastner said. "There were about 12,000 frozen fish
fillets left and will be divided up and sent to the Gleaners." Even the
carcasses of the salmon are not wasted and are sent to a community
action agency for rendering plants or back into the river for food for
fish, insects, or other animals. "Everything is used for a purpose.
Nothing is wasted, and that makes us feel good," she said. Kastner said
the ceremony used to take place at the Municipal Auditorium. "I had a
vision of having this next to the river and this is where it should be.
I've been watching the salmon for 10 years now coming up the river and
it's still so amazing to see thousands and thousands of salmon and to
see little kids mesmerized staring at the fish. And, some of the salmon
are bigger than some of the kids," she said with a smile. Kastner said
it's a lot of work to put on the event, but very worthwhile. "When you
see the smiles of kids and people looking happy, it gives you the
strength and energy to do it again next year. And, it's exciting. Dan
and Patsy did a great job bringing it together," she said. The event
also had several tents where wood, rock, and stone carvings, jewelry,
and clothing were being displayed and sold. Also, Indian Tacos and Fry
Bread were being sold for a fundraiser. The Salmon Ceremony also
received donations from the Enterprise, Mooretown, and Berry Creek
Rancherias, Seek said. Indian hand-games with bones and sticks were an
ancient tradition played by all ages. These games were played later in
the afternoon. Dan DeLeon, chair of the event, thanked Val Shadowhawk
for narrating the event on the microphone. "Val is with a big drum group
and I'm so grateful to have him here." DeLeon said he is especially
happy how the event brought his entire family back together again for a
reunion. "They came from all across the country and it was very healing
experience for not just my family, but beneficial for everyone involved.
People came from all over. We gather together to bless the river and the
salmon. This is a beautiful spot. It is open to everyone and Indian
people are coming together more. This ceremony gets bigger and is
growing every year," DeLeon said. "And, there were many people seeking
healing," Seek said. "This is not a pow-wow with competitive dancing,
this is a gathering and blessing of the Salmon and the river." To find
out how to donate or participate in next year's Salmon Ceremony, call:
(530) 533-1948, or (530) 533-1504.