Samish Canoe Lands at Historic Guemes Site First Landing at New Guemes Village in Almost 100 Years Photos by Edith Walden
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$2.25 Vol. 5 No. 7 September 2014 Samish Canoe Lands at Historic Guemes Site First Landing at New Guemes Village in Almost 100 Years PHOTOS BY EDITH WALDEN PHOTOS Left: From the beach, Tsul-ton (Bill Bailey) offers a traditional greeting and welcome to the Samish canoe paddlers as they arrive at the former site of New Guemes Village. Above: Tsul-ton visits with Samish elder Tenas Skwa-Ta’-ah (Jackie Bohn). By Win Anderson and Edith Walden sha,” Samish for “sea lion”) broke free education and training as the leadership Sixteen launchers made light work from the shallows, the crew, dressed in strives to reconnect Samish members of hauling the 25-foot fiberglass Salish- all manner of contemporary and tradi- with their heritage. style canoe across the exposed channel tional garb, strove awkwardly to set- The tribe was fractured and dis- tide flats below the Guemes ferry termi- tle in. Shoreside, David Blackinton persed, following decades of difficult nal on the overcast morning of July 12. drummed a simple accompaniment to years spent overcoming the nearly fatal Under the direction of canoe skip- islander Rosie (Cayou) James’s vivid effects of the infamous “clerical error” per Sam Barr, 24, last-minute instruc- “Siechen” song. that erased the Samish from govern- tions were issued to the crew of 10— Then, on command, the 10 pad- ment ledgers 45 years ago. Not un- a few experienced; others, such as dlers dipped in unison and, moment- til 1996, after several appeals, did the 11-year-old Lily-Rose Day, novices arily at least, became a disciplined vision Samish finally regain their status among on such a journey. of thousands of years of native history tribes of the region. Their goal: a safe passage of discov- in these Salish Sea waters. In the back- “We are slowly coming together ery and celebration of honor to those ground, a 21st-century power yacht and as a tribe and sharing responsibilities who have gone before. The destination: the M/V Guemes ferry added ironic con- with the younger members,” Bailey the Guemes Island West Shore site of trast to the scene. said. “The energy is so strong. This was the last historic Samish tribal settlement Tribal elder and islander Bill Bailey a chance to make a special trip to sat- in the San Juans. (Tsul-ton) explained that the event was isfy the ancestors, recognizing them in a As the craft Eshes (pronounced “ah- part of the Samish tribe’s continuing (continued on page 10) 2 The Guemes Tide September 2014 Letters “Good stuff” helps inmates needed. In addition, retired teacher Bar- Many, many thanks to all of you bara Schnabel donated thermometers, generous islanders who donated “good devices to measure mass, hand lenses, stuff” for the Smart Recovery Shipwreck and other lab tools that proved very use- Day sale last July 19 in Anacortes. The ful and will be used for years to come. Mission Statement total gross from the sale was $1,028! We thank all of you who have been The Guemes Tide is published to Every single penny will be used to pur- so generous in helping us with mathe- connect, inform, amuse, serve, and chase Smart Recovery Handbooks for matics and science materials for the inspire our island community. the inmates attending the two Smart Science Camp. Recovery meetings at Monroe Correc- —Kathy Finks, Carol Harma, and Subscriptions are $20 a year (10 is- tional Complex. Most of the guys have Holiday Matchett sues). Subscribe online at guemestide.org lost everything, and their sometime or send your mailing address and a check made out to The Guemes Tide to: The wages of 42 cents an hour can hardly Paws for gratitude Guemes Tide, 4709 South Shore Drive, allow them to afford the handbooks. The Guemes Island Historical Soci- Anacortes, WA 98221-9579. Your donations help a lot. ety (GIHS) would like to thank all who Advertising: Space reservations due the 15th of the month preceding issue Thanks again, made the Dog Island Dog Show a huge date; camera-ready artwork due the 22nd. —Howard Pellett, Smart success. Contact [email protected]. Recovery Programs Joseph Miller was instrumental in The Guemes Tide (USPS #014-902) is published monthly except in January setting up our online presence, as well and August by Guemes Tide Publishing, Science teachers say thanks as advertising in various forms. Thanks 4709 South Shore Drive, Anacortes, WA Dear editor, also to our silent auction donors, in- 98221-9579. Periodical postage paid at Anacortes, Washington. Four years ago, the Guemes Island cluding Glen Veal, Janice Veal, Dawn Contents © 2014 by Guemes Tide Science Camp began with the gener- Ashbach, Tim Wittman, Sue Roberts, Publishing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit ous donation of teaching materials. As Andy Gladish, Kit Marcinko, Leo Os- organization, except as otherwise noted. Bylined articles and attributed artwork each summer rolls around, the teach- borne, and Julie deRouche. Julie also are published by permission, with all ers (retired) come back into action with donated a raffle item along with the fol- rights retained by their creators. Opinions a theme and build four days of expe- lowing individuals: Nancy and Al Bush, expressed are not necessarily those of the publisher. Unsolicited manuscripts and rience and activities for island young- Trish Bradley, Gary Davis, Marco Capu- artwork dealing with Guemes Island and sters. Upon occasion, we have been re- to, Amy Reber, and Jessica Lynch. Cor- its people are encouraged but may not be cipients of materials from islanders and porate sponsors included Island Farm returned. friends of islanders. & Pet, Ace Hardware, and Sebo’s Do It Advertising Manager: Tom Murphy This year the Science Camp teach- Best Hardware—all of Anacortes. Business Manager: Thea LaCross ers received a $200 stipend from the In addition to the GIHS team, we Calendar Editor: Lynn Prewitt Guemes Island Library for purchases as (continued on page 3) Circulation Manager: Dyvon Havens Contributing Editor: Holiday Matchett Editor Emeritus: Win Anderson Photo Fixer Joins Staff Editor-in-Chief and Lead Reporter: For the past three years, Ralph Walden Edith Walden Managing Editor and Layout Lead: (Edith’s brother) has been helping fix the Tide’s Nick Allison photographs when they need help. Tide read- Photo Wizard: Ralph Walden ers may remember his April Fool’s photograph Other Members of the Publishing of the huge ferry landing at the Guemes dock in Team: Anne Casperson, Karen the April 2013 issue (see guemestide.org for an Everett, Juby Fouts, Anne Passarelli archived copy). A photographer and Photoshop Website: Find back issues, subscription info, and more at guemestide.org. expert, he can restore old photographs, sharp- Email: [email protected] en blurred images, help color photographs look [email protected] good in black and white, and removed distracting [email protected] objects. Ralph has been doing so much work of [email protected] Phone: late that we decided to “officially” recognize him Ralph Walden: a self-portrait Leave message at 299-9999. as a staff member, with the title Photo Wizard. POSTMASTER: Ralph is no stranger to Guemes. He’s been visiting for 19 years, and for the past Send address changes to The Guemes few years has been coming up monthly to get a thorough workout on his sister’s Tide, 4709 South Shore Drive, Ana- farm. Ralph also has a computer-programming background, and is an accomplished cortes, WA 98221-9579 pianist and gourmet French chef. The Guemes Tide September 2014 3 August 5 Primary LETTERS of Catch the Wave Dog Training and (continued from page 2) Alice Collingwood, with Summit As- Election: How were fortunate to have many individuals sistance Dogs, for their fine demon- Guemes Voted donate their time, talents, and resources strations. Let’s not forget our team of to our event. MJ Andrak, Michael judges: Allen Bush Jr., Marie Padovan, By Nick Allison Grennell, Rob Schroder, Lu LeMieux, Bill Testerman, and special judge Dan Here are the Guemes precinct’s Dave Hartford, Sally Smith, Kathy Makus. Sally Stapp-Brigham provided results from our summer primary, held Finks, Adam Veal, Win Anderson, Shir- fine coverage of the show as emcee. on August 5 and certified by the Skagit ley and Dave Margeson, Wendell Phil- Last but not least, we thank the County Elections Department on lips, and Ron and Julie Flint—all Dog community for its enthusiastic support August 19. The top two in each race go Islanders—helped our cause. Rebecca of the first-ever Dog Island Dog-Days- on to the general election, scheduled for Wentworth of Island Farm & Pet and of-Summer Dog Show. My apologies go November 4. Frea Gladish added to the festivities as to anyone that I may have omitted in As usual, turnout was higher on vendors. this letter. Guemes (44.22 percent) than for the Special thanks go to Marie Padovan —Tom Deach, for GIHS county as a whole (34.97 percent), though both figures are low—not too surprising for an off-year primary held Tide Is Now Its Own Nonprofit in the dog days of summer. On July 23, the Guemes Tide successfully filed for recognition as Guemes Tide Races in which a candidate was Publishing, an independent nonprofit corporation. unopposed aren’t listed. Since our first issue in February 2010, we had operated as a committee of the nonprofit Guemes Island Historical Society. We’re very grateful for the society “taking Congressional District 2, us under its wing.” In reality, we operate quite independently of it, and decided the U.S. Representative organization’s structure should reflect that fact.