Swinomish, museum combine for salmon

“Secret Life of Salmon” is a special event that will be held at the Island County Museum in Coupeville Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This event is being billed as informative, interesting and a lot of fun. Among the attractions to be featured will be “Salmon” artist and Cultural Committee chair of Swinomish Tribe, Kevin Paul, and every half hour there will be presentations provided by the five organizations that are participating.

January 20, 2009 6:51 pm
Rick Castellano
Rick Castellano

“Secret Life of Salmon” is a special event that will be held at the Island County Museum in Coupeville Saturday, Jan. 31, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This event is being billed as informative, interesting and a lot of fun. Among the attractions to be featured will be “Salmon” artist and Cultural Committee chair of Swinomish Tribe, Kevin Paul, and every half hour there will be presentations provided by the five organizations that are participating.

There will be interesting and educational children’s activities and the documentary film, “Shadow of the Salmon,” will be shown throughout the day.

The Swinomish Tribe will bring some of their art and a story teller, the Samish Tribe will feature some of their art, a story teller and music, and the Northwest Indian Fishing Commission’s Grant Kirby will be there, along with an informational table for their representatives.

The ORCA Network and Whidbey Watershed organizations will also have tables set up and participate in the presentations and there will be activities for families and children to enjoy throughout the day.

This will be the first in a number of events to be held at the Island County Museum in conjunction with the theme, “Tribes of the Pacific Northwest.”

Rick Castellano, executive director of the Island County Historical Museum, said the Swinomish tribal community and the Island County Historical Society recently agreed to work collaboratively on a new museum branch devoted to the native peoples of the Pacific Northwest. He said he hopes to start the planning meetings with the tribe this month. The tribe and the historical society have been meeting since last summer to put together a mutually beneficial working arrangement.

Castellano said, “This collaboration is important for the historical society and especially for the Swinomish, as the location of the museum branch will be near their tribe’s historic village.”

An all-day pass for The Secret Life of Salmon will cost $8 single; $20 for a family of three, plus $2 for each additional family member. Kids 5 and under are admitted free. Call 678-3310.