Learn about and celebrate the Similkameen River and the Indigenous people of the area at an afternoon and evening of presentations, music, dinner and a silent auction this weekend at Similkameen Sunday (Sept. 17).
The event will be from 3-7:30 p.m. at the Community Cultural Center of Tonasket.
Chris Fisher, a biologist with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, will provide an update on Enloe Dam and a study of the feasibility of dam removal. Joy Abrahamson with Aboriginal Outfitters will talk about ongoing work to restore the ecology of the Similkameen River.
After dinner, there will be two panel discussions featuring speakers from House of the Moon, Aboriginal Outfitters, the Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Okanagan Nation Alliance, and the Colville Tribes.
One discussion will focus on deepening our sense of relatedness to each other and to the earth. The other discussion will be about interventions developed by House of the Moon with regard to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two Spirits.
Similkameen Sunday includes a silent auction featuring arts and crafts, food and services. There will also be music by local duo Karen and Gil, and storytelling and music from a knowledge-keeper from the Lower Similkameen Indian Band.
Dinner options are locally sourced salmon donated by the Colville Tribes or a vegan entrée, with vegetables, bread and dessert.
The event is a fundraiser for the Community Cultural Center of Tonasket, Aboriginal Outfitters, Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Upper Similkameen Indian Band, Okanogan Highlands Alliance, the Methow Valley Citizens Council, and Columbiana, an environmental and educational organization.
Tickets are $25 and available through Eventbrite or at the door. People should RSVP with their dinner choice to rickg@columbiana.org or (831) 332-4778.
