Chiloquin High, Klamath Tribes host third annual salmon bake, cultural resource fair

Nov. 22, 2024 / Chiloquin Jr/Sr High School students and staff enjoyed salmon cooked by members of the Klamath Tribes over an open fire pit and participated in traditional snake and round dances on Thursday, Nov. 21 during a day dedicated to exploring Native American culture and heritage. More photos and videos: HERE

This is the third year the school and tribal members have organized a traditional salmon bake to celebrate the Native culture within Chiloquin’s student body and honor Native American Heritage Month.

Will Hess, a Klamath Tribal member who works with students through the On Track OHSU! program, organized the event with the help of Chiloquin school administrators Ruben Paschal and Michael Hofmann and support from the Klamath Tribes Culture and Heritage Department, Klamath Tribes Language Department, Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services Prevention Program, and Klamath County School District Title VI and Food Services departments.

“Thanks to Will Hess, it was a great day,” Paschal said. “To celebrate Native American heritage is to honor the resilience, wisdom, and tradition of the first stewards of this land, reminding  of the strength in cultural unity and respect for all.”

About 60% of Chiloquin’s student body identifies as Native American or Indigenous.

This year, Tribal members cooked the salmon in a newly built pit constructed by Chiloquin student O’Riley Lewis for his senior project. Paschal asked O’Riley if he would be willing to design and build the pit. O’Riley discussed details with Paschal and Lloyd Rogers, the school’s custodian, and then created the oblong design for the 14x11-foot pit, which is surrounded by concrete blocks. Plans are to build a 12x20-foot gazebo over the area and install seating.

“It’s great seeing it be used,” O’Riley said Thursday as he and his classmates enjoyed the salmon.

The entire project took about 20 hours. “I learned a lot,” he added. “Leveling is very important, and you have to check, check, and check again to make sure everything is OK for the next step. If you don’t prepare the previous step right, it isn’t going to work.”

The 100 pounds of salmon for the event were purchased by On Track OHSU! from a Yakama Nation tribal member with ties to the Klamath Tribes, using funds from a Ford Family Foundation grant that were allocated specifically toward supporting Chiloquin community events that promote tribal culture and engage tribal youth. Tribal members volunteered to prepare and cook the salmon over the fire, following the traditional fish cooking practices of the Klamath River tribes. Other Tribal members cooked fry bread to serve with the fish.

After lunch, students learned about the Klamath language and other cultural traditions and visited with Tribal members about available education, health, and employment resources. The cultural fair was followed by a powwow featuring student Klamath Tribal dancers, represented by Chiloquin students and a student from Klamath Union. Most of the dancers are members of the Klamath Tribal Youth Council. Members of the Northern Eagle, Steiger Butte, and Warrior Society drum groups provided the music.

Following a demonstration of traditional powwow dances, students were asked to join the dancers on the floor for two social dances – the snake dance and the round dance.

Organizers plan to continue the annual event and extended thanks to the Klamath Tribes for their ongoing support.