Poem: Seeing Salmon

Salmon aquarium at the 2017 Bear Creek Salmon Festival.

Poem: Seeing Salmon

Seeing salmon swim
in the pickup truck size aquarium
at Bear Creek Salmon Festival 2022

moved me, shifted me.
Their size, their sleek strength,
their millennia-long upriver journeys.

Takelma elder Grandma Aggie’s teaching
of “Salmon nation,”
of “all our relations”
reverberates within my mind.
Do I want to eat these “relations”
ever again?

Later, I see bright chunks of god-stuff
in fish form
grilling by an open fire, Takelma style,
here for all ages to taste.
They have been gently guided on to 
decades-used sharp redwood skewers
by Native elder Tom Smith.

Grandma Aggie speaks within me again:
“Honor and give thanks”
for these relations
we depend on for our very lives.
So I savor the vibrant flesh

with gratitude
for the Parks Department staff
and Native American wisdom-holders
and caring Ashland volunteers
who made this community Salmon Festival 
possible.

Most of all,
I give thanks to
the Circle of Life creator
of salmon, community, and me
for this day in the Circle.

The 2022 Bear Creek Salmon Festival took place on October 1 in North Mountain Park. Great attendance, especially families with kids. Lots of fun, education, music and food.

Tom Smith places salmon on redwood skewer.
Tom Smith is placing salmon on a redwood skewer at the 2022 Bear Creek Salmon Festival. (photo by Peter Finkle, 2022)
"Seeing Salmon" as Tom Smith places salmon by fire to grill.
Tom Smith places salmon by fire to grill at the Bear Creek Salmon Festival. (photo by Peter Finkle, 2022)
"Seeing Salmon" at 2022 Bear Creek Salmon Festival, North Mountain Park,
Beautiful “bright chunks of god-stuff” on traditional redwood skewers. (photo by Peter Finkle, 2022)
2022 Bear Creek Salmon Festival, North Mountain Park, line for a bite of salmon
People line up for a bite of salmon at the 2022 Bear Creek Salmon Festival in North Mountain Park. (photo by Peter Finkle, 2022)
Salmon aquarium at the 2017 Bear Creek Salmon Festival.
Here’s what the salmon aquarium looked like. This photo is from the 2017 Bear Creek Salmon Festival. (photo from Libby VanWyhe)
1 Comment
  • Nina
    Posted at 21:02h, 03 October Reply

    I attended, was there, and spoke to Tom Smith, who I know does the seat lodges at the Veterans Administration helping veterans there. It was a wonderful day in North Mountain Park, so great that Ashland is doing these kinds of things. bringing information to attendees, the importance of becoming close to the earth and one with nature.

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