Community readying for Return of the Salmon

The Skykomish and Sultan rivers will soon be home to numerous Coho and Chinook salmon as they return from the open sea to spawn, and plans for the welcoming committee are well underway.

This year's Return of the Salmon Celebration takes place 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 24, at Sultan's Osprey Park. The committee has vendor and sponsorship opportunities available to those who want to be a part of a community-building event that showcases the natural environment and emphasizes good stewardship, while celebrating the salmon that return to the Sultan River every year to spawn. Additionally, the event honors Chief John T'seul-Ted, also known as Sultan John, whose 13-foot-tall likeness stands near First and Main streets in Sultan's River Park.

"It's fun, but it's also educational,GÇ¥ said Sky Valley Chamber of Commerce Director Debbie Copple.

The event embraces Native traditions, including a welcoming ceremony, drumming, dance, story-telling and flute playing. Local purveyors of hand-crafted items, including art and jewelry, are welcome to have a booth at the celebration. The vendor fee for commercial, crafts and fine arts is $25, while nonprofit organizations are free.

Vendor space will be set up in the covered basketball courts in the park, and if the weather is accommodating, in the adjacent grassy area. Family, individual and business sponsorship opportunities are available for $25, $50, $100 or more.

The event will include riverside walking tours, information about the connection between the Tulalip Tribes and the city of Sultan, Master Cedar Weaver Lance Taylor and horse-drawn covered wagon rides to and from the Sultan High School salmon hatchery. As far as the chamber knows, Sultan High School is the only high school with its own salmon hatchery, Copple said, which is an integral part of the school's biology program. Kids and adults will be given the opportunity to bring a baby salmon back to the celebration for release in the Sultan River, she said, which is a popular activity at the event.

"You get your very own little baby fish to bring back to release into the Sultan River, and that is a super cool thing for the kids,GÇ¥ Copple said. "Usually, on the wagon ride back, they name them. It's a really big deal, and the kids love it.GÇ¥

Vick's Burger Shack will offer grilled salmon and Caesar salad for purchase. Family business co-owner Marc Vick said they have been in the process of crafting an exclusive menu for the event.

"We've got the most incredible Caesar dressing recipe we've developed, if we do say so ourselves,GÇ¥ Vick said. "Using all top quality ingredients, as usual.GÇ¥

There will also be discussion about Since Time Immemorial, legislation passed in 2014 that requires the inclusion of tribal sovereignty curriculum in schools.

A highlight during this year's event will be a tribute to environmental advocate Don Foltz, who passed away in April. Foltz was a passionate conservationist, teacher, athletic coach and career counselor, and served in both the Army and the Marine Corps. Foltz loved the Return of the Salmon Celebration, and worked on the committee every year.

He will be greatly missed, said chairman Craig Young.

Longtime Sultan resident Bob Hazelbrook will also be honored. Hazelbrook, who led the effort to establish the salmon hatchery at the high school, passed away in June at 97.

The celebration will welcome special guest Patricia Linn, the great great granddaughter of Chief T'seul-Ted. T'seul-Ted was chief of a sub-group of the Snohomish Tribe, and was born and raised near what is commonly known as the city of Sultan, where he lived nearly all of his life.

It is believed that Sultan is named after the revered medicine man ' when residents found T'seul-Ted too difficult to pronounce, they simplified it to Sultan. T'seul-Ted passed away on April 4, 1926, in Hadlock, Washington, where he was staying with his brother. His birthday is unknown, but he was thought to be nearly 70 years old when he died.

A 5-K "Salmon RunGÇ¥ will take place prior to the event, which includes a 1-mile fun walk. The Salmon Run start time is 10 a.m. ' 10:30 a.m. for the walk. To find out how to get involved in this year's Return of the Salmon Celebration, contact Young at 425-359-8936 or email at craigyoung45@gmail.com. To register online for the Salmon Run, visit www.skyvalleychamber.com/events-and-attractions/2016-return-of-the-salmon-celebration.