Sinixt Canoe Journey 2024
Did you know, the Columbia Tribes come together each year to meet in Kettle Falls, WA and celebrate the annual salmon run? It had been over 80 years since the tribes gathered together at these ancestral fishing grounds, but in 2016 the Upper Columbia Tribes revitalized this tradition and journeyed in dugout canoes from their individual homelands. This initial ‘Ceremony of Tears’ was a time of mourning, as tribes witnessed the end of historic salmon migrations to the Upper Columbia due to the installation of the Grand Coulee Dam.
Prior to the construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, Kettle Falls was one of the largest fisheries in the world and tribes from as far away as Montana, Idaho and Canada would gather for the salmon run in June and September. They would hold a ceremony each June which would include a "giveaway" and "community feast" in honor and respect of the Salmon, and they would pray for the salmon’s safe return up the Columbia River. This ceremony was also documented by early explorer David Thompson and has been a part of the Inchelium community history. This tradition is still alive and well today.
Over the years, this canoe journey has moved its starting point further north along the Columbia River, from places like Castlegar and Galena Bay, and in 2023, Revelstoke became the new starting point for this journey. We’re excited to connect with Sinixt, as they return to our community from June 12-14 and prepare to embark on their 2024 journey south.
“A HOMECOMING EVENT FOR THE SINIXT TO CONNECT WITH THEIR TRADITIONAL TERRITORY IN AND AROUND REVELSTOKE AND WITH THE COMMUNITY WHO LIVES HERE.”
An unforgettable day at the Revelstoke Stop of the Sinixt Upper Columbia Canoe Journey. There were multiple family-friendly activities to participate in throughout the day, followed by a Salmon dinner at the community centre in the evening.
