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Blessing of the River and Memorial Site Dedication

Apr 22, 2014

The final prayer song before the meal was sung by children.

The final prayer song before the meal was sung by children.

On April 4, around 250 people gathered at Columbia Hills State Park in Dallesport, Washington for a blessing of the river and dedication of the proposed Fishers Memorial that the tribes hope to have built there. The event included drummers singing three sets of seven songs each, an opportunity for those gathered to talk about the memorial and remember there lost loved ones, and concluded with a salmon dinner. The CRITFC Enforcement team was given with a beaded staff to honor their dedication and support in search, rescue, and recovery efforts. The final blessing on the food was sung by a group of children. In his remarks, the event organizer River Chief Wilbur Slockish, Jr, spoke of honoring the river that gives us life and respecting that same river, because it can take life, too.

For more information about the proposed Fishers Memorial, visit www.critfc.org/fishersmemorial.