Family-Activities-Winter
Beach Walk
Winter Unit
Our Winter Unit covers the changes the weather undergoes for the season, what animals are active
or important, and how stories were traditionally told during this time.
Lushootseed
stab čəxʷ ʔəsšudxʷ - What do you see?
ʔal ti BLANK - We are in BLANK.
x̌ʷəlč - Ocean/saltwater
bəsqʷ - Crab
kiyuuqʷs - Seagull
tulqʷ - Mussel(s)
st̕əqxʷ - Beaver
buʔqʷ - Duck
sup̓qs - Seal
Activity Instructions
Roast/Dry Salmon on Sticks
Preparation: (Watch Video)
1. Dig a pit 5 ft by 3 ft and 6 inches deep. Loosen the soil around the edges, which allows the sticks to penetrate the ground deep enough, so the sticks and the fish on them stay upright.
2. Build a fire in the pit. Dried maple, apple, and oak are preferred, but any dry wood without pitch is welcome.
3. While the coals are heating up, about 2 hours, fillet the salmon (Watch video). Once the salmon is filleted, cut each slab into pieces about 3 inches wide.
4. For roasting sticks, we prefer to use ironwood (rare find) but any straight-grained wood (pine, fir, redwood, bald cypress, and white cedar) may be used. The sticks will need to be about 3 feet long and ½ inch wide. The sticks will need to be sharped at both ends to be able to pierce each piece of fish between the fleshy meat and skin and to penetrate the ground. The first piece of fish needs to be placed about 10 inches from the bottom, and each stick should hold 3-4 pieces.
5. Once all the fish is on the stick, season with salt and pepper. Push the sticks into the ground around the edges of the pit. Place skin towards fire first for about 20 mins, so the fish tightens up on the stick to prevent sliding. Then continue cooking with flesh side facing the fire for up to 4 hours. It will only take about an hour to cook the fish to eat, but it takes about 4 hours to cook the fish to dry and preserve. The jerky will be good for 3 weeks in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer in airtight container.
Dry salmon in the oven
Preparation: (Watch Video)at
Use Salmon fillet with skin-on preferably. Rinse salmon and pat dry. Cut fillet in half then cut length-wise into ½ inch strips. Brine strips in a bowl of water with equal parts sugar and water. Make sure to gently mix with hands. Let sit for at least 30 minutes or overnight in refrigerator. Hang strips on oven racks and place a cookie sheet lined with foil at the bottom of the oven to catch juices. Set oven to lowest temperature possible and place a spatula in door to allow air-flow. Let it cook for 4 hours and enjoy!
Family and intergenerational learning
Cooking, gathering, building a fire, sitting by the fire, and sharing stories as we prepare and eat food are great ways to connect through the generations and back to our land.
Local Place Connections
This activity can be completed at the beach, in the mountains, in the woods, or in your homes.
huyadadčəɬ:
When the tide is out, the table is set. ʔal ti sšikʷ, ƛ̕uqʷatulč.
Hunting and Fishing
Winter Unit
Our Winter Unit covers the changes the weather undergoes for the season, what animals are active
or important, and how stories were traditionally told during this time.
Lushootseed
stab kʷi sʔuhuyčəɬ - What are we doing?
ʔuhaʔlid čəɬ ti səxʷʔuləx̌ədčəɬ - We are cleaning our equipment.
ʔəsčal kʷi shaʔlidčəɬ ti səxʷʔuləx̌ədčəɬ - How do we clean our equipment?
dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb - Fishermen
dxʷsxʷiʔxʷiʔ - Hunter
haʔlid – Clean
st̕əqxʷ - Beaver
buʔqʷ - Duck
sqʷtaycəd – Sturgeon
sup̓qs - Seal
Activity Instructions
• Discuss with your ʔiišəd (family) different experiences with ʔuxʷiʔxʷiʔ (hunting) and ʔuɬiʔɬdahəb (fishing).
• Share examples and experiences that explain the importance of safety. Offer examples of when safety was especially important and times when you learned more about the importance.
• If your ʔiišəd (family) has access to ʔuxʷiʔxʷiʔ/ʔuɬiʔɬdahəb (hunting/fishing) through the steps to clean or maintain those materials.
• If you don’t have access, you can ask syəyaʔyaʔ/ʔiišəd ((friends/family) if they have those materials and if they will show you how to maintain those materials.
• Discuss as a ʔiišəd (family) why ʔuxʷiʔxʷiʔ (hunting) and ʔuɬiʔɬdahəb fishing) safety is important for you and how you will maintain safety in future experiences.
Practice Phrases
• ʔəsčal kʷi adshaʔlid ti xʷəltəbalc - How do you clean a gun?
• ʔəsčal kʷi adsqʷibid ti huyəq – How do you fix a net?
• Family and intergenerational learning
People of all ages can always learn and share about safe practices for fishing/hunting.
• Local Place Connections
This activity is an opportunity to share within your family the different experiences of fishing and hunting.
• huyadadčəɫ:
This activity reminds us about family values and teachings, passing cultural and family traditions is a great way to bond and remember teachings passed down.
Visiting Local Habitats
Winter Unit
Our Winter Unit covers the changes the weather undergoes for the season, what animals are active
or important, and how stories were traditionally told during this time.
Lushootseed
stab kʷi sk̓ʷədad dxʷʔal ti sləx̌il – What is the weather like today?
stab čəxʷ ʔəsšudxʷ - What do you see?
ʔəsšudxʷ čəd ti ____ - I see ______
ʔubaqʷuʔb – Snowing
ʔuqəlb – Raining
ʔəsgəqəb – Sunny
st̕əqxʷ - Beaver
buʔqʷ - Duck
x̌payʔac – Cedar Tree
swatixʷtəd – Land
swatwatixʷtəd - Trees
sup̓qs - Seal
Activity Instructions
• Talk as a ʔiišəd (family) about what each person knows about local tatačulbixʷalʔtxʷ (large animal habitats) and where we may go to experience those tatačulbixʷ (large animals) in their habitats.
• There are many places around dxʷlilap (Tulalip) that offer views into titčulbixʷalʔtxʷ (small animal habitats) like the hatchery, the ʔilgʷiɬ (beach), or even the bridge crossing qʷəl̕sidəʔ dᶻəɬixʷ (Quil Ceda Creek) are great areas to possibly see titčulbixʷ (small animals) that are important during pədt̕əs (winter).
• Activities like bird watching or visiting the tatačulbixʷaliʔ (zoo) could also be a possible destination if you are unsure of local tatačulbixʷalʔtxʷ (large animal habitats). You can decide together where to explore and observe titčulbixʷ (small animals) in their habitat during the pədt̕əs (winter season)!
• Be on the lookout for important tatačulbixʷ
(large animal) markers, like čəsadbid
(tracks), ʔalʔalʔal
(homes), or even marks on trees/plants, these will show what kind of titčulbixʷ
(small animals) live there and even how they live their lives.
• If you like, family can take pictures or draw pictures of the animals you see along the way.
Family and intergenerational learning:
Many outside areas can be open for elders or disabled peoples to be able to participate, but if visiting a dense outside area with mobility restrictions, stopping before and discussing the local area is a very important part of outside excursions.
Local Place Connections:
Going outside, exploring, and learning about how and where animals live and interact is a great way to learn about our ancestral homelands.
huyadadčəɬ:
While the world continues to change, we are still here living with the animals in their/our usual places. We must keep knowledge of their homes and our homes in the areas we all share. Going out and exploring the world can help to improve mental health and build connections.