Salmon Festival

August 21, 2007

By Nicholas Grube

Triplicate staff writer

Despite gray skies and wet conditions, more than 700 people came to the Klamath Salmon Festival Sunday to enjoy the celebration of Yurok culture and, of course, salmon.

"I think the turnout was great," Salmon Festival Coordinator Macy Donahue said. "Considering the rain and the drizzly wetness and everything, everybody was satisfied."

An estimated 570 salmon dinners were served at the event which included a veteran-led parade, Yurok Brush Dance demonstrations, numerous vendor booths, an auction of American Indian art and the crowd-pleasing stick games.

"The festival really brought Klamath alive Sunday," Donahue said. "It was amazing."

But even thought the Salmon Festival is only in its 45th year, the relatively new celebration focuses on the timeless gathering of tribal members and a recognition of their ingrained traditions.

"That's kind of the real purpose of the Salmon Festival, to come see people," said Frank Grant, who was standing next to the stick game field waiting for the competition to resume.

He said the festival is not about the politics surrounding the Klamath River or any of the disputes within and among the different tribes.

"Today it's about culture and history," Grant said. "And that's what it's all about."

Walter Lara Sr., who emceed the event, reiterated Grant's statement about the Yurok culture and how the Salmon Festival is something bigger than just a one-day, annual event.

"We've done these things for many, many, many years," he said while addressing a crowd after a Brush Dance demonstration. "It's not something we started 45 years ago. We've been doing it for life."

Lara Sr. spoke of the importance of Yurok traditions, the meaning of their dances and the symbolism inherent in their regalia. He talked of the Creator and of the salmon providing life to the Yurok Tribe ever since the beginning of time.

"I was asked earlier, ‘Why do we do this?'" he said in reference to the importance of the ceremonies. "It's our religion and our belief and we're not changing it."

And an important aspect of conserving Yurok traditions, Lara Sr. said, is to conserve the salmon that swim through the Klamath River . Booths and signs scattered throughout the festival added to this sentiment with information about the dams up the river and the importance of maintaining the health of the species.

"The only connection we have with the Creator during our ceremonies is the salmon," Lara Sr. said. "We need to protect the fish and we need everyone here to do it."

Reach Nicholas Grube at ngrube@triplicate.com.

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Source:  http://www.triplicate.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=5489