Konkow Valley Band of Maidu First Salmon Ceremony
The First Salmon Ceremony is a celebration of the abundance of Nature and the coming together of the People. This year we were able to engage our young people in the practice of spear fishing. The first salmon used for our ceremony was taken in this fashion and landed by elder, J D Smith, from Berry Creek.
The Dance Circle was prepared, with fire in the center, rope with feathers representing the walls of the round house and entrance to the east.
Our cedar bark house is used by the dancers as their place to get ready. They have used a sage smudge to rid the place of evil spirits.
This is the first salmon, taken by spear. In the foil package are the fins that have been cut into small pieces to be thrown into the fire as offerings to the spirits.
The Feather River Fish Hatchery provided us with approximately 65 fish (well over 1,000 pounds). Eric Josephson, our salmon cook, shows off some of the salmon we cooked and passed out to everyone who came to the event.
Everyone was pleased to see Bucky Gramps. Recently he has been in Idaho, but was in the area for the bull riding competition in Chico this past weekend.
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