By Wade Sheldon, Tulalip News
Over 80 young learners, the largest group to date, gathered at the Kenny Moses Building from July 14 to 18 for the second week of the 28th annual Lushootseed Language Camp. With eager hearts and curious minds, the campers immersed themselves in a week-long celebration of language, tradition, and community.
This year’s theme, ‘How Chipmunk Got Its Stripes’, wove its way through stories, games, and projects, tying together each activity with a deeper cultural meaning. Campers explored eight engaging activity stations each day, led by culture bearers, Lushootseed educators, and community volunteers.
At the woodworking station with Michelle Myles and Thomas Williams, students crafted paddle necklaces, wind chimes made from devil’s club, and chipmunk houses, though some campers playfully insisted they were birdhouses. The weaving station, hosted by Melissa Young, guided students in creating wool skirts and sashes for the honored witnesses of the end-of-week play, tribal members Joyia Kinlicheeney and Marc Robinson.
Another popular stop was the technology station, where kids interacted with tablets and explored a new Lushootseed language app developed by the Tulalip Lushootseed Department. Longtime team member Dave Sienko, who has been a media developer since 2005, was honored for his dedication with a blanket and a cedar headband. Reflecting on the new app, Sienko said, “It makes you feel good when you see all the different ways the kids utilize the apps—some are even working on the longer Lushootseed words, and those aren’t easy to learn.”
Each day brought new adventures. Outdoors, campers played traditional games like “Owl and Chipmunk,” a language-based twist on tag. As temperatures climbed, laughter still rang out under the sun. “It’s never too hot to play,” a pair of campers said while dashing between hula hoops, shouting Lushootseed words like “kayə,” which means grandma, in a spirited chase to escape the owl.
Across the camp, joy and pride in cultural identity were evident. Eleven-year-old Cruz Pablo shared, “I liked being the basket lady and playing games. My favorite word I learned was ləqəc—it means ‘listen to me.’” She added, “I like speaking Lushootseed, but it is challenging.”
Acaela Jimicum reflected on her experience with reverence: “My favorite part was meeting new people and learning about my culture.” Her favorite word? ʔačeda, meaning “oh my goodness.” She especially enjoyed learning the Berry Picking Song. “It’s important for us to pick up the tradition and learn to speak the language since our ancestors who were at the boarding schools couldn’t. I feel excellent and happy being able to speak my Indigenous language.”
Parents, too, expressed appreciation for the camp’s cultural impact. Lisa St. Onge, mother to campers Amira and Kalayna, said, “I signed my kids up for the cultural experience. They’ve been speaking Lushootseed at home all the time. I think it’s good to see them learning their ancestral ways.”
Behind the scenes, 23 summer youth workers aged 14 and up played a vital role as group leaders, assisting at stations and ensuring the camp ran smoothly. Among them was Evan Taylor, participating in both the youth program and Lushootseed Camp for the first time. “It was fun, and I learned a lot,” he said. “Week two was a little easier because we had more older kids, so they understood more.”
Language warrior Michelle Myles summed up the week’s energy: “It was a fantastic camp. We had so many projects and such a big group, this was the biggest we’ve had. It was awesome. We might need to add a third week,” she joked.
With lively conversations, creative hands-on learning, and stories echoing in both Lushootseed and English, Week Two of Lushootseed Camp offered not just education but inspiration. The week closed with a final performance of How Chipmunk Got Its Stripes, a living expression of cultural pride and youthful enthusiasm, a sign that the Lushootseed language is alive and thriving in the voices of the next generation.