With drums reverberating and voices lifted in song, Stillaguamish tribal members formed a solemn procession as the tribe resurrected the long-awaited tradition of welcoming salmon in the Stillaguamish River. It was the first time in memory that the local tribal group had practiced the sacred Salmon Ceremony, and marked the first Chinook fished from the river in over 25 years.

Stillaguamish Salmon Ceremony July 25, 2009 from Beckye Randall on Vimeo.

"We gave up fishing for awhile to let the salmon recover," said former tribal chairman Shawn Yannity as he greeted those attending the July 25 event at Arlington's Victoria Ranch. "We worked to preserve our culture as we preserved our salmon. But while we couldn't let the fish die, it's time to pay attention once again to our culture."

The honored fish's silver skin gleamed in the sun, cradled in a cedar litter lined with fern leaves and carried by four men of the tribe. Relaxing in the shade of majestic trees or under the shelter of a large canopy structure, tribal members and invited guests watched as men, women and children sang, drummed and encircled the fish bearers.

Yannity remarked, "This is a historic day for us. We've brought the salmon from the river. He is our guest. He feeds and nourishes our body and our culture."

"We've worked with environmental agencies, our neighboring tribes, natural resources experts and more to bring the salmon back to the river," Yannity continued. "The only thing we didn't do was honor the culture, and it's time for that piece."

The ceremony is meant to honor and thank the fish. After it is cooked and eaten, the bones are returned to the river to "tell others Chinook that it's time to come home."

Tribal chairwoman Sandra Klineburger added, "This ceremony is so sacred to our culture and our history as a people."

As the fish bearers continued the salmon's journey to the smoke pit, Yannity continued the ceremony by calling on several visitors and tribal members to serve as witnesses. Yannity and Klineburger presented Stillaguamish Pendleton blankets to Janice Mabee, chairwoman of the Sauk-Suiattle tribe; Billy Frank Jr. and Mike Graham of the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC); Janet Kautz, Nisqually fisheries director; and Stillaguamish tribal member Nick Smith.

"These witnesses will tell others about this day," said Yannity. "If they are asked, 'Did this happen?' they will answer, 'Yes, it did. I was there'."

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