A family of salmon people

Another year of the Wy-Kan-Ush-Pum Village at the Salmon Festival has come and gone. For the past six years your dad has been the organizer for the event and most of his family has participated as volunteers and presenters. Being a part of the village has been an incredible experience for me as I have gotten to know some amazing people and learned a lot about salmon and tribal culture. As a volunteer and participant, I've had a chance to put up and take down teepees, clean and roast salmon, bang on a tribal drum, scrape a buffalo hide, weave a basket, and many other things that I never knew I'd get a chance to do. 

A little about the event from critfc.org:

Wy·Kan·Ush·Pum means "Salmon People," and the Wy·Kan·Ush·Pum Village at the Oxbow Salmon Festival was established to teach people that we are all Salmon People...Visitors to the festival get the opportunity to actually participate in tribal activities rather than be mere spectators. Tribal elders get the opportunity to share their knowledge with the general public in a traditional setting that helps educate guests. 

I am so proud of your dad for creating this unique experience for the region and this amazing opportunity for our family and so many others. 

In this series, you and Grandpa Crow were standing in a teepee doorway. It was nippy out so you put your cold nose right up to grandpa to keep warm. 

Here we are on an Appaloosa from Nez Perce country. 

Our darling papoose - several tourists took pictures of you and other babies in the village in cradle boards. One of the teenage volunteers made your headband.

Geraldine Jim is a Warm Springs elder who comes every year to demonstrate stick-roasting salmon. She has a great sense of humor and a surprising weakness for marshmallow Peeps. This year, she and her daughter Mona shared some tips on using a cradle board with me and I am so grateful.

Your dad took a break to parade you around the village and introduce you to everyone. 

A partial view of the village.