The 2nd Festival of the st̓əč̓as (Steh-Chass) will be at Heritage Park on Saturday, August 17, celebrating the “cultural and ecological significance of the decision to remove the 5th Avenue dam and restore the estuary in Downtown Olympia.”
The Squaxin Island Tribe and the Deschutes Estuary Restoration Team (DERT) collaborated for the annual event filled with workshops, vendors, tabling, and performances.
Speakers to look forward to include Squaxin Island Tribe Chairman Kris Peters, 6th Washington State Poet Laureate Rena Priest of the Lhaq’temish (Lummi) Nation, and Squaxin Island Museum Director Charlene Krise.
There will also be musical performances by Suquamish hip-hop fusion artist Calina Lawrence and Ts’mysen rock artist Saltwater Hank.
The afternoon schedule includes hands-on environmental workshops with Metamimicry, South Sound GREEN, and Squaxin member and scientist Shawnell McFarlane. At 5:30 p.m., the day culminates in a Healing of the Waters Ceremony by the 5th Avenue dam.
The festival coincides with this year’s 50th anniversary of the Boldt Decision’s signing and the 30th anniversary of the last Healing of the Waters Ceremony at Budd Inlet.
These milestones highlight the relevance between ecological restoration and water, salmon, and cultural health.
Individuals interested in volunteering may learn more and sign up here.
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KellyOReilly
This event sounds cool. Does anyone know when it starts on 8/17? There's no info on the schedule.
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