By Micheal Rios, Tulalip News
June brought with it a sight that would have filled the hearts of Tulalip’s ancestors with immense pride. As the summer morning sun cast its gentle light over Tulalip Bay, hundreds gathered at the Longhouse to renew a sacred agreement that has bound our people to the salmon since time immemorial. Families arrived dressed in regalia, elders greeted relatives and friends, and generations stood side-by-side in preparation for one of the most important cultural gatherings of the year, Salmon Ceremony.
“Salmon Ceremony is about giving respect to those that come from nature,” explained ceremony coordinator and Board of Director, Glen Gobin. “But it also teaches us about giving respect throughout life and honoring those gifts that we get. Respecting our way of life in a good way means making sure we sing the songs, conduct ourselves properly, and teach the next generation how to carry themselves in life. All of the songs we sing here today have meaning. They teach us everything is connected and encourage the people to carry themselves in a good way.”
Among the many beautiful moments witnessed throughout the day, one stood out above all others. The Longhouse was filled with representatives of the newest generation. Babies cradled in their parents’ arms. Toddlers taking in the sights with wide-eyed wonder. Young dancers eager to join the circle. Many were experiencing their very first Salmon Ceremony. For others, it was their first time ever stepping inside the Tulalip Longhouse.
And still, throughout the songs, blessings, teachings, and dancing, an extraordinary calm settled over the gathering. Not a single cry interrupted the ceremony. No restless outbursts. No fits or tantrums.
Instead, the youngest generation appeared completely captivated by the sounds surrounding them. The steady heartbeat of the drums echoed through the cedar-planked walls while songs filled the air. It was as if those songs, carried forward through generations, were reaching the ears of the little ones and reminding them exactly where they belonged.
In a world often filled with noise and distraction, the scene was striking. Babies rested peacefully while singers lifted their voices. Young children sat quietly beside grandparents, absorbing teachings that have survived centuries of change. The ancestors’ songs seemed to soothe them in a way words cannot fully explain.
“All these little faces with their great big smiles bring me so much happiness,” reflected Sarah Hart. “They actually remind me of when I first started participating in Salmon Ceremony when I was 4 or 5-years-old. Back then it meant everything to be up there next to my dad, uncle Marvin, and uncle Stan as they drummed and led the people with the songs. It still means the world to me whenever I have the opportunity to drum next to my dad.
“Submerging our kids in the culture is the best way we can preserve our culture because through the next generation is how the teachings are passed on,” she continued. “By introducing the young ones early their spirits are calmed because this is where they are meant to be. They are meant to know the inside of the Longhouse. They are meant to know our songs and dances. They are meant to be a part of their Tribe.”
To Sarah’s point, the presence of so many young ones proved that Salmon Ceremony is about more than honoring the first salmon. It is also about ensuring that each new generation inherits the teachings, responsibilities, and identity of the Tulalip people. That connection between generations was matched by another connection that made itself known throughout the entire gathering.
High above the Longhouse, eagles circled overhead. Time and again, participants paused to notice the majestic birds soaring against the sky. Their calls rang out across Tulalip Bay, creating a natural accompaniment to the songs being sung below. As drummers kept rhythm inside the circle, the eagles seemed to offer songs of their own from above.
The salmon arrive each year from the waters of the Salish Sea to fulfill their side of an agreement generations old. The eagles watch from above, dependent upon those same waters and salmon runs for survival. The people gather in the Longhouse to honor the gifts provided by the natural world and renew their commitment as caretakers.
Everything is connected. From the salmon swimming through Tulalip Bay to the eagles soaring above the shoreline. From the cedar used to build the Longhouse to the songs gifted by the ancestors. From the elders carrying decades of knowledge to the babies experiencing the ceremony for the very first time.
Four-month-old Kashton Marchesi, who became the newest enrolled Tulalip tribal member just 24-hours earlier, was one of those babies experiencing the sights and sounds of his very first Salmon Ceremony. He was nestled in the loving arms of his mom, Jasmine, who beamed with pride.
“One year ago, I was pregnant at Salmon Ceremony. I was so excited knowing I’d be back with my baby, and here we are,” shared Jasmine. “There are so many littles here this year. It’s just amazing to see the parents and families making sure their babies are contributing to the culture.
“Kashton is already so used to the drum that he managed to sleep peacefully through several ceremony practices,” added the twenty-three-year-old. “It’s just one aspect of making sure he’s immersed in our culture. Another is, I’ve been learning Lushootseed and doing my best to practice it by speaking to him. I’m just so excited to think of his future. I can already imagine him being a part of the Warrior Song and speaking Lushootseed.”
Salmon Ceremony remains a living reminder that Tulalip’s relationship with the natural world is not one of ownership, but of responsibility. That teaching has endured through generations since the ceremony’s revival in the 1970s, when cultural leaders including Harriette Shelton Dover, Bernie “Kai Kai” Gobin, Stan and Joann Jones, Molly Hatch, and Mariah Moses helped restore the tradition after years of suppression. Their vision was to ensure that future generations would know these songs, understand these teachings, and continue honoring the salmon people.
Looking around the Longhouse this year, that vision was clearly alive and thriving. In those moments, surrounded by family, culture, and creation itself, the teachings of Salmon Ceremony felt as alive as ever.