Chinook Nation celebrates first salmon, fights to regain federal recognition

Chinook Nation celebrates first salmon, fights to regain federal recognition

The Chinook Indian Nation welcomed the return of salmon to the Columbia River this spring with its annual First Salmon ceremony, a tradition that has connected Chinook people to the river, their ancestors and future generations for centuries. Tribal members gathered to sing, dance, drum and speak about what the salmon tradition means and the connection between the past and present, nature and man. On June 19, the Nation gathered at Tansy Point i…