Walk through Salmon Ceremony

The First Salmon Ceremony Unit

Families (ʔiišəd) will discuss why we have a First Salmon Ceremony (ʔəsq̓ʷuʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč) and prepare to participate in the event.

t̕ilib - Sing

dᶻubalikʷ - Dance

təsalikʷ - Drum(verb)

luƛ̕təd - Elders

sduhubš - Snohomish People

sʔəsq̓ʷuʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč - First Salmon Ceremony

dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb - Fisherman

gʷəhəliʔtxʷ - Blessing

šaw̓šaw̓ - Bones

1. gʷədil (sit down) and talk with your ʔiišəd (family) about your previous knowledge on the sʔəsqʷ̓ uʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč (First Salmon Ceremony). Discuss any questions you may have about the sʔəsqʷ̓ uʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč (First Salmon Ceremony).
2. If attending the scheduled Salmon Ceremony practice then you are finished and its time to go enjoy the practice, if not now we will go through step by step how the ceremony will be ran.
3. We will first talk about Harriette Shelton Dover and Morris Dan who helped revive the Tulalip Salmon Ceremony.
4. Watch “The Tulalip Tribes 1st Salmon Ceremony”  here and listen to the words and songs shared in the video and the steps they took to honor the yubəč (King Salmon).
5. First we will bless the fisherman (gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəɬ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb), we will say a basic prayer and sing (t̕ilib) the st̕ilib (song) gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəɬ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb (blessing of the fishermen).
6. Next we will now t̕ilib (sing) Eagle, Owl, Blue Jay (st̕ilib gʷəɬ Jones ʔiišəd) and skʷakʷcəb st̕ilib (Snohomish War Song) Find the songs here.
7. After you have finished singing all our songs, we will now share a piece of yubəč (King Salmon) with a glass of water like our yəl̕yəlabčəɬ (ancestors).
8. After you all have ate yubəč (King Salmon) together we will return the šaw̓šaw̓ (salmon bones) to the water so the yubəč (King Salmon) will return again.
9. After this ceremony is complete discuss amongst the ʔiišəd (family) why it is important for our sduhubš people (Snohomish) to keep doing this ceremony for the yubəč (King Salmon) to return.

Family and intergenerational learning:

If you have any family members with physical or mental disabilities and going into public spaces isn’t for you then think about holding your own practice in your home with your family to prepare for the Salmon Ceremony.

Local Place Connections:

Our Salmon Ceremony is held in our long house located by the bay in the parking lot of the youth center. This area has always been a prime spot for our people to fish, canoe, and live.

huyadadčəɬ:

We sing and dance honoring King Salmon because it is part of the agreement between the First People and King Salmon which will result in nourishment and healthy salmon runs. It’s important that we never forget, who we are, and where we came from, long into the future as proud Snohomish people.

Basic fisherman prayer:

ʔu x̌aʔx̌aʔ šəq siʔab Oh Lord / Father
ʔut̕igʷicid čəɬ dxʷʔal tiʔəʔ sləx̌il. We thank you for this day.
ʔut̕igʷicid čəɬ dxʷʔal ti sʔəsq̓ʷuʔčəɬ. We thank you for allowing us to gather.
gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəxʷ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb. Please bless our fisherman.
gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəxʷ ti bədbədaʔčəɬ. Please bless our children.
gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəxʷ ti sʔəɬədčəɬ Please bless our food.
ƛ̕ub ʔəsʔistəʔ. So be it, Amen.

Snohomish War song (skʷakʷcəb st̕ilib):
Lyrics

xʷiʔ---- xʷiʔ---- xʷiʔ----
hiyah---- ha----ha------
xʷiʔ---- xʷiʔ---- xʷiʔ----
hiyah---- ha----ha------
xʷiʔ---- xʷiʔ---- xʷiʔ----
hiyah---- ha----ha------
sduhubš čəd bək̓ʷak̓ʷbixʷ

xʷiʔ gʷədsyaʔyaʔ
ʔah kʷi bək̓ʷak̓ʷbixʷ
xʷiʔ------------ hiyah------ ha----- ha-----
sduhubš čəd bək̓ʷak̓ʷbixʷ
xʷiʔ gʷədsyaʔyaʔ
ʔah kʷi bək̓ʷak̓ʷbixʷ
xʷiʔ------------ hiyah------ ha----- ha-----

(st̕ilib gʷəɬ Jones ʔiišəd) Eagle, Owl, Bluejay:
Lyrics

huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
sduhubš--- sduhubš---- sduhubš---ti----yah
sduhubš--- sduhubš---- sduhubš---ti----yah
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
kʷədadad--- kʷədadad---- kʷədadad---ti—ah-----
kʷədadad--- kʷədadad---- kʷədadad---ti—ah-----
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
sgʷədilič--- sgʷədilič--- sgʷədilič---ti—ah------
sgʷədilič--- sgʷədilič--- sgʷədilič---ti—ah------
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
t̕əstəd—u---t̕əstəd---u----t̕əstəd----ti—ah---
t̕əstəd—u---t̕əstəd---u----t̕əstəd----ti—ah---
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
təmanməs----təmanməs----təmanməs----ti---ah----
təmanməs----təmanməs----təmanməs----ti---ah----
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
sduhubš--- sduhubš---- sduhubš---ti----yah
sduhubš--- sduhubš---- sduhubš---ti----yah
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh
huy---- u---- huy ---- u ---- huy ---- oh

Walk through Salmon Ceremony

The First Salmon Ceremony Unit

Families (ʔiišəd) will discuss why we have a First Salmon Ceremony (ʔəsq̓ʷuʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč) and prepare to participate in the event.

sduhubš - Snohomish People

sʔəsq̓ʷuʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔabyubəč - First Salmon Ceremony

dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb - Fisherman

gʷəhəliʔtxʷ - Blessing

hikʷ siʔab yubəč - King Salmon

gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəɬ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb. - We bless the fishermen.

ʔəsʔəx̌id kʷi gʷədəxʷhəliʔtxʷ čəɬ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb. - Why do we bless the fishermen?

tix̌dxʷ čəɬ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb. - We take care of the fishermen.

tix̌dubuɬ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬhahəb. - The fishermen take care of us.

Writing Blessings and sing blessing of the fisherman:
1. Review why we bless the fishermen (gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəɬ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb) at the sʔəsqʷ̓ uʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč (First Salmon Ceremony)
2. Take turns as a family to share what gʷəhəliʔtxʷ (blessing) you will give to the dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb (fishermen).
3. Draw/write the blessings (gʷəhəliʔtxʷ) you will offer to the dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb (fishermen) for the sʔəsqʷ̓ uʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč (First Salmon Ceremony)
4. After writing gʷəhəliʔtxʷ (blessing) and prayers for the dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb (fishermen) meet up with a local fishermen in your family or go to the marina or hatchery and sing the "Blessing of the Fishermen" (ɬut̕ilib čəɬ ʔə ti gʷəhəliʔtxʷ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb) for those who are out on the water for their first catch of the season!

Family and intergenerational learning

• If younger children and kids with special needs are present they can draw their blessings instead of writing blessings to share with a fisherman in your life or a fisherman at the marina or hatchery.

Local Place Connections

The waters have always been sacred to our people we protect our waters and our people on our waters, our ancestors fought for the land and waters we fish and hunt on.

huyadadčəɬ:

It’s important that we never forget, who we are, and where we came from, because with a remembrance of this we will be able to preserve and continue to exist.

Basic fisherman prayer:

ʔu x̌aʔx̌aʔ šəq siʔab Oh Lord / Father
ʔut̕igʷicid čəɬ dxʷʔal tiʔəʔ sləx̌il. We thank you for this day.
ʔut̕igʷicid čəɬ dxʷʔal ti sʔəsq̓ʷuʔčəɬ. We thank you for allowing us to gather.
gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəxʷ ti dxʷsɬiʔɬdahəb. Please bless our fisherman.
gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəxʷ ti bədbədaʔčəɬ. Please bless our children.
gʷəhəliʔtxʷ čəxʷ ti sʔəɬədčəɬ Please bless our food.
ƛ̕ub ʔəsʔistəʔ. So be it, Amen.

Design your dream regalia (q̓ičalic̓aʔ)

The First Salmon Ceremony Unit

Families (ʔiišəd) will discuss why we have a First Salmon Ceremony (ʔəsq̓ʷuʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč) and prepare to participate in the event.

x̌ʷəx̌ʷqəlaqid - Headband

šiqʷ - Cedar hat

ləšal - Shawl

hədax̌adikʷ - Vest

səlapus - Cedar cape

tuƛ̕alib ʔə kʷi tuʔaciɬtalbixʷ. - Ancestors wore these long ago.

sʔəsq̓ʷuʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč - First Salmon Ceremony

ɬux̌alalikʷ čələp ʔə kʷi šiqʷ. - You all will design your hat.

ɬux̌alalikʷ čələp ʔə kʷi x̌ʷəx̌ʷqəlaqid. - You all will design your headband.

1. Sit down as a ʔiišəd (family) and review regalia vocabulary for this activity.
2. Discuss regalia as a ʔiišəd (family) and express what regalia means to each of you.
3. Review the examples of dxʷlilap (Tulalip) people’s(sduhubš) q̓ičalic̓aʔ (regalia). Pass them around the ʔiišəd (family) and make sure to take notes and remember what you liked about each piece of clothing.
4. If you have your own pieces of regalia now would be a good time to show them or leave them out so other family member(ʔiišəd) could look at them for inspiration.
5. Print out the Coast Salish form shapes, the x̌ʷəx̌ʷqəlaqid (headband) cut out, šiqʷ (hat) cut out, the ləšal (shawl) cut out and the hədax̌adikʷ (vest) cut out. Have each of your ʔiišəd (family) members design their regalia.
6. You can use markers, pencils, crayons and color it. Or you can do it collage style with different color papers or magazines, using coastal Salish shapes and forms.
7. After you have designed your ləšal (shawl), x̌ʷəx̌ʷqəlaqid (headband) , šiqʷ (hats) and hədax̌adikʷ (vests) you can share them with your family(ʔiišəd).
8. These designs can be used to make regalia for the sʔəsqʷ̓ uʔ ʔə ti hikʷ siʔab yubəč (First Salmon Ceremony)!

Family(ʔiišəd) and intergenerational learning

If your children are unfamiliar with regalia, ensure they gain a solid understanding of its significance before beginning this activity. Elder family members (ʔiišəd) can provide valuable insight, explaining the purpose and meaning of the regalia being created and discussed. This activity is a wonderful opportunity for people of all ages to participate and learn together.

Local Place Connections

Tulalip Tribal regalia are culturally significant items of dress that are worn by Tulalip Indigenous people (sduhubš) during traditional ceremonies, activities and important life events, including rites of passage like graduation. These specific items the headband, shawl, vest and hat are just a few of the items Tulalip people wore long ago and still do day.

Tulalip Life skills:

Regalia is a powerful mode of self-expression that blends historical and modern dress. Worn with responsibility and pride, the clothing represents community traditions and personal tastes. A dancer's outfit is a collection of items that reflect their lives, interests, and ʔiišəd (family) background. It’s important that we never forget, who we are, and where we came from, long into the future as proud sduhubš people (Snohomish).

Materials:

• writing/ coloring utensils: Markers, Pencils, and Crayons.
• paper cut outs of regalia
• Coast Salish shape examples
• vocab cards
• examples of regalia
• magazines and colored construction paper
• scissors and glue