Spirit of Water | Indigenous song and story coming to Friday Harbor

||| FROM JESS NEWLEY for FRIENDS OF THE SAN JUANS |||

This October, Friends of the San Juans invites the community to gather for Spirit of Water with Chenoa Egawa, an evening of Indigenous song, ceremony, and teachings in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day and Orca Recovery Month. The event will take place on Saturday, October 11, at Brickworks in Friday Harbor. 

Chenoa Egawa (Lummi and S’Klallam) is an internationally respected Coast Salish artist, singer, author, and environmental protector. Her performances weave ancestral knowledge with a call to protect the waters of the Salish Sea, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience Indigenous teachings in an intimate island setting. 

“At Friends, we understand that the health of the Salish Sea depends on the health of its entire watershed. From the freshwater we use in our homes, to wetlands, to coastal shorelines—our work is interconnected just like the water itself. Hosting Chenoa Egawa is an opportunity to deepen that understanding with Indigenous wisdom,” said Jess Newley, Community Science and Education Director at Friends of the San Juans. 

In addition to the public gathering, Chenoa Egawa will visit Friday Harbor schools to share teachings with students, deepening the island community’s connection to Indigenous perspectives and water protection. 

Event Details 

Seafood Feast + Main Event: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. | $75 (includes feast and admission to the main event) 

Main Event: 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. | Sliding scale tickets $10–$50 

Space is limited. Register now at sanjuans.org/events. 

For those seeking a full cultural experience, the evening begins with a Seafood Feast featuring food by Teja Julius, a Lummi Nation fisherwoman and chef, with proceeds supporting Friends’ education programs in island schools. 

The evening is supported in part by The Salish Current, the San Juan Island Community Foundation, the Town of Friday Harbor, and the Bradley Family Foundation. 

About the Event Host, Friends of the San Juans 
Founded here in the islands in 1979, Friends of the San Juans brings people and nature together to protect the San Juan Islands and the greater Salish Sea bioregion. From restoring beaches and mapping eelgrass, to mobilizing community action and advancing strong local policy, Friends has worked alongside islanders for nearly 50 years to safeguard the island resources, wildlife, and waters that sustain us. Guided by respect for the stewardship of sovereign Tribal Nations, Friends embraces a shared responsibility to care for this place—and the bioregion we’re part of—for generations to come. Learn more at sanjuans.org.