Historical Museum Salutes Samish Heritage

Lummi canoes come to East Sound in 2002, as part of  a traditional voyage. Photo courtesy of Peter Fisher.

Saturday, July 27 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Outlook In

From the Orcas Island Historical Museum

Join the Orcas Island Historical Museum for our biggest fundraiser of the year – a spectacular seafood buffet inspired by the traditional diet of the local Coast Salish people.

The event will take place on the lawn of the beautiful historic Outlook Inn, with breathtaking views of the water. New Leaf Cafe will provide the food – a mouthwatering mix of traditional Coast Salish foods like mussels, clams, salmon and chicken. It will all be fresh and local produce – a real taste of the island!

The Museum is pleased and honored to announce that Rosie Cayou James and Bill Bailey of the Samish Nation will be in attendance. Rosie and Bill live on Guemes Island near Anacortes. Rosie’s grandparents are from local traditional lands including Guemes, Swinomish and Vancouver Island and her Grandfather Cayou was born on Orcas Island. Bill is a carver and artist with several tribes including the Upper Skagit, Swinomish, Quinault, and Samish.

Rosie and Bill will sing and drum to honor the bond that the Samish tribe has with the land and sea. They will share stories and songs of their people. The Samish nation recently hosted a traditional potlatch ceremony to celebrate and name the local J Pod’s newest calf, T’ílem Ínges (“singing grandchild.”)

Lunch will commence on the lawn at 1 pm. Guests are invited to attend our demonstrations and exhibitions on the grounds of the hotel, and also in the Victorian Room. Local natural scientist Russell Barsh will give an overview of our local component of the Burke Museum’s Travelling Exhibit, “Salish Bounty” which will be on display at the Orcas Island Historical Museum from July 20 to Sept 20.

Judi Watson will also tell stories about Judd Terrill and his partnerships with Boston Tom “Chechilem” “Tsit sa lum” as recorded in the census, who is the focus of our exhibit. “Boston Tom” died and was buried in Eastsound in 1913. His lodge was on the site of the historic Outlook Inn.

Tickets for this event cost $75 and are limited, so please contact us now. All profits will go to the museum, to fund our general operations and ensure that we can continue to offer an interesting and stimulating program of events in the upcoming year.

The Salish Bounty Friendship Feast and Salish Bounty exhibits have been co-organized by Exhibits Chair Denise Wilk of The Orcas Island Historical in partnership with the Burke Museum and Outlook Inn, and with participation from Rosie Cayou James, William Bailey, Russell Barsh, Madrona Murphy and Judi Watson.