Close up at Swinomish Days

The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (SITC) invited Native American and First Nation people, their family, friends, and those wanting to learn more about Indigenous culture to their Reservation for the 4th Annual Swinomish Days, August 11-13.

Indigenous people have traveled and gathered together during different seasons to socialize and compete for decades. This is a chance to see family and friends, especially if absences were long. The summer season gives many a chance to be outdoors where they can enjoy canoe races, inter-tribal dance contests and stick games, a type of guessing game.

From one generation to the next, talent and skills have been passed down, along with traditional songs, dance steps, techniques, and cultural teachings, in hopes they will be preserved, practiced, and shared.

These traditional activities still take place in modern times.

New activities, like basketball, are popular, providing healthy competition and camaraderie.

The SITC/Swinomish Days committee combined these four components. This year up to 5,000 people attended throughout the weekend. The event was rich in indigenous cultures, demonstrated through sight, smell, taste and sound.

The Friday Grand Entry of inter-tribal Powwow dancers were led by military veterans from many tribes. Participants traveled to SITC from Arizona, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and California; while First Nation dancers came from around British Columbia. Dancers and representatives from various Washington State tribes participated, as did the Swinomish tribal dancers and royalty – warriors and princesses.

Many of the dancers competed in the Powwow and some participated in other on-site activities.

Barbara James, a Swinomish senator and Elder said “Swinomish hosts the event to bring back the celebration and gathering of our people.” The cash prizes and trophies people competed for were, she said, “one good potlatch” – a custom in this region, a time to “give away.”

Swinomish Tribal member Amanda Washington found it “fun”. The 22-year-old helped her mother, Aurelia Bailey, SITC cultural director and coordinator, and other Swinomish committee members, organize and coordinate the Powwow. She is “a team” with her mother, she said. She reflected that she has been her Mom’s “right hand since she was eight or 9-years-old”.

Her mother taught her “how to organize and run events, not just Powwows,” she said. Janet Edwards and Gabby Corral, Jr. have been mentors to her, also.

She found it “amazing to be part of such a big event and to be part of her tribe.”

For three days the Powwow arena was filled with the beat of at least 14 drum groups, the sounds of dance bells and indigenous dancing.

On Sunday Amanda observed “at the end it is a big relief when it’s over; but when it is over, for a minute, it’s sad, because everyone is gone”.