Penn Cove Water Festival - 2009

This year's Penn Cove Water Festival (see map) continues our renewed focus on the cultural history of the region, and once again brings back all time favorite performers, new performers, and the fun, family atmosphere that is unique to the festival.

The Penn Cove Water Festival Association is a small nonprofit organization consisting of community members from the Town of Coupeville, Port of Coupeville, South Whidbey, Orca Network, Beachwatchers, Native Tribal representatives and Skagit Valley College. This committee has been working tirelessly to revitalize the festival and take it in a direction of more traditional Native American culture and traditions with emphasis on Native education and the importance of environmental resources as it relates to Native traditions. 2009 is the 18th year of the Penn Cove Water Festival, bringing the historic Water Festival to a new life as our Native community and neighbors participate in their annual tribal canoe races, and townspeople gather to celebrate our history and the waters that surround us.

Our community saw its first Water Festival back in 1930. While only eleven-man canoes participated in the first Water Festival, subsequent years brought larger canoes as well as over twenty-two tribes gathering each year to participate in races and share their heritage with the population of Penn Cove.

Today, the newly created Penn Cove Water Festival Association hopes to bring that spirit back to life by educating us on our Native community with not only tribal canoe races but increased Native arts and crafts, demonstrations, storytelling, dance performances, artist demonstrations, authentic Native foods, children's activities, and exhibits and displays.
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Help us by volunteering the day of the festival as volunteers are needed with assisting the performers, artists, racers, and children's crafts. Contact members of the committee for more information. See you there!
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Canoe Race Schedule
RACES BEGIN AT NOON
AT CAPT. COUPE BOAT LAUNCH ON NINTH STREET
Races subject to change depending on types/numbers of canoes to register.

Race

1) Single Man Race - Compass Rose Bed and Breakfast
Winners: First Place - David (Chilliwack); Second Place - Ralph J. (Lummi); Third Place - Daniel (Five-Star)
2) Single Woman Race - Anchorage Inn Bed and Breakfast
Winners: First Place - Kayla James (Stahlo Princess); Second Place - Jamie Charlie (Chehalis); Third Place - Lana Johnson (Jimmy 2 Nooksack)
3) Mixed Doubles Race - NAHMA Investments
Winners: First Place - Dave and Amanda (Autumn Rose); Second Place - Lana and Joe (Nikkole Cree); Third Place - Diane and Herman (Jimmy 2 Nooksack)
4) 6 Jr. Buckskin Race - George Lloyd, Elkhorn Trading
Winners: First Place - Amanda Rose (Lummi); Second Place - XWA 'XWOS (Lummi); Third Place - Winter Hawk (Stahlo)
5) 6 Buckskin Race - The Coupeville Inn; Joan Lappin, Betsy Knight
Winners: First Place - XWA 'XWOS (Lummi); Second Place - Amanda Rose (Lummi); Third Place - no name (Swinomish)
6) 6 Woman Race - Molly McPherson & Joan McPherson Attorneys
Winners: First Place - Winter Hawk (Stahlo); Second Place - Little 5; Third Place - Lil Cree (Lummi)
7) 6 Man race - Toby's Tavern, Dale Roundy, Donna Keeler
Winners: First Place - XWA 'XWOS (Lummi); Second Place - 5-Star; Third Place - Sweet Sister (Jimmy 2 Nooksack)
8) 11 Jr. Buckskin Race - Sandy Dubpernell, LuceEd Computer Support, Onee Hedeen
Winners: First Place - Lady Rose (Lummi); Second Place - Ultimate Warrior (Lummi); Third Place - War Chief (Swinomish)
9) 11 Buckskin Race - Ken and Nan Leaman/Penn Cove Veterinary Clinic, Susan Berta, in honor of Roger Purdue
Winners: First Place - Ultimate Warrior (Lummi); Second Place - Lady Rose (Lummi); Third Place - (none)
10) 11 Woman Race - Penn Cove Shellfish
Winners: First Place - Stahlo Princess (Lummi); Mountain Breeze (Chilliwack); Rikkole Cree (Lummi)
11) 11 Man race - Penn Cove Shellfish
Winners: First Place - Lady Rose (Lummi); Second Place - Mystical Lady (Chahalis); Third Place - Mountain Breeze (Chilliwack)

Family Canoes - Coupeville Lions
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2009 Performances
Thanks to a grant from the Coupeville Festival Association, Washington State Arts Commission and the Tulalip Tribe, the Penn Cove Water Festival will feature the following performances in downtown Coupeville during the Water Festival:

Performance schedule - Main Stage:

11 - noon - Shifty Sailors, Sea Shanties and Maritime Music, arrive down the street in their striped glory to open up the festival!
12:15 - 1:15 - Cindy Minkler - flute, keyboard, drum - Raven Spirit Canoe Family (Wilson family), Songs, dancing, story telling
1:30 - 2:15 - Peter Ali - flute
2:30 - 4:00 - Tsimshian Haayuuk Dancers
4:15 - 5:30 - Swil Kanim- Native violin player and story teller

Plus a special surprise guest!

Performance schedule - In the Museum:

12:00 - 12:30 - Lou LaBombard, storyteller, professor of Anthropology and member of the Seneca Nation will tell stories that will keep the entire family enthralled.
and
3:30 - 4:00 - Lou LaBombard - Native Story Teller

The Main Stage is on Front and Alexander Street
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Performer Descriptions/Bios:
The Tsimshian Haayuuk Dancers
Members of the Tsimshian Haayuuk Dancers are from the Tsimshian Tribe along the northern coast of British Columbia, Canada and Southeast Alaska. The group is based in Seattle. The purpose of the group is to:
* Serve as an outlet for Tsimshian Culture
* Bring awareness of the Tsimshian culture to the general public and other tribes
* Perform at Indian and non-Indian events

The nucleus of the group formed out of a committee that, in 1996, hosted the first modern potlatch in Seattle. The one day potlatch hosted, gifted, and fed more than 1,500 people. The group’s intent was to perform at this single event, but decided to stay intact. Since 1996, the group has performed in the Seattle area, British Columbia, Oregon, Washington, Alaska and at other events outside the Pacific Northwest such as the Eiteljorg Museum in Indianapolis and in Orlando at Disney World.

Each dance reflects a Tsimshiam interpretation of common themes such as fishing, hunting, first contact with non-Indians, family history and our relationship with the spirit world. Unique highlights of the group are:
* Theatrical and choreographed dances
* The use of wood box drums unique to the Tsimshian tribe
* Handmade dance regalia consisting of button robes, masks, and headpieces.
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Swil Kanim
Swil Kanim is a world class virtuoso violinist who advocates self-expression to create stronger community.

He intertwines his music with storytelling, poetry, and audience interaction. His original compositions are mesmerizing and inspiring to all ages alike, so bring the whole family when he is performing.

Swil Kanim is a popular key-note speaker and also a notable actor; he starred as “Mouse” in Sherman Alexies highly acclaimed movie The Business of FancyDancing.

Biography:
Swil Kanim has been featured on KIRO TV NEWS, National Public Radio’s Earth on the Air, Northwest Public Radio, NW Cable News Network and the Canadian Chum Networks New Canoe.

In addition to appearing in 24 episodes of CBS’s Northern Exposure, his music and acting ability were highlighted by starring in Sherman Alexies critically acclaimed The Business of FancyDancing.

He was selected to perform as part of the Bellinghams Sister City Program in Teteyama, Japan where he continued on to Seoul, Korea for a memorial/reunion concert for orphans of the Korean Conflict.

The Indigo Girls asked Swil Kanim to be their opening act in Seattle to kick off the Honor the Earth Concert tour of North America.

Swil Kanim also performed for five years with the Growth and Prevention Theater Company (GAP Theater), based out of Seattle. The GAP Theater Company presented professional plays about racism and varying forms of bigotry for institutions across the Great Northwest.

He has done school assemblies for elementary and secondary education in Washington State, British Columbia, Canada, and in Sitka Alaska.

He has performed for the staff and participants of Re-habilitation Centers across the state of Washington.

At the American Indian Film Awards in San Francisco, Swil Kanim performed on stage, he was featured on the soundtrack of a documentary about Indian Boarding Schools, which won the Best Documentary award.

Swil Kanim has received the Certificate of Virtuosity from the Whatcom Chapter of the Washington State Music Teachers Association, the Bellingham Municipal Arts Award for Promoting Self-Expression in Community, and Woodring College of Education Professional Excellence Award.

In February of 2004 he perfomed with Andre Feriante and Paulo Cesar at Benaroya Recital Hall in Seattle, WA
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Peter Ali
The lifting notes of the Native American flute reminds us of a time when this music was played for courtship, healing, and during rituals. Peter Ali brings a unique collection of his Native flutes and contemporary songs that only come from the heart. Self taught and playing for nine years Peter has performed all over the Puget Sound in the past four years, and has played for the Dalai Lama last May. Peter is descended from his Mother who is of Yaqui heritage from Bacadehuachi Sonora Mexico and a Father who's people are the Berber tribes of Morocco, North Africa. Peter continues the flute tradition as his Grandfather was also a flutist.
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The Shifty Sailors, Sea Shanties and Maritime Music
Everyone knows the Shifties - but you can find more info. at their website.
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Louis LaBombard
Louis LaBombard is a tenured professor of Anthropology at Skagit Valley College, Whidbey Campus where he has taught for 18 years. He teaches classes in Anthropology, Native American Studies, Ethnic Studies, Global Issues and Sociology, and is the Chair of the Social Science Dept.

Professor LaBombard holds several degrees in Anthropology and Sociology. Lou has lectured for many groups as a professional, international teller of Native American oral traditions, and has been a head singer and traditional dancer and MC, "whip man" and judge at Pow Wows around the country. Prior to coming to S.V.C. he was the chair of the Social Sciences Dept. of Navajo College, Tsaille, Arizona. His family has been here for 19 years.

Lou is a Seneca-Mohawk (Haudenosaunne) of the Iroquois confederacy, Wolf and Heron clans. He is a Viet Nam veteran and served as an airborne paramedic. He is married and has one boy in college and lives with his wife on a small farm on Whidbey Island. Fishing and hunting are favored past times.

Lou has also taught Field Schools in Archaeology on the Whibey Island in the summer, Students have explored the various sites on the Island(s) and excavated and analyzed materials from the Mitchell site at Polnell Point.

Professor LaBombard has lectured around the United States on subjects ranging from incorporation of Native American materials into the general teaching curriculum and the use of Native American story telling and oral traditions to various subjects relating to the archaeology and history of the West, Southwest and the Northwest Pacific Coast. Currently he is finishing a study of the techniques for retention of traditional cultures of select Native American groups compared with the Maori of New Zealand.
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Raven Spirit Canoe Family
The Raven Spirit Canoe Family is a canoe family which was formed in 2007. The Wilson Family of Lummi, WA were gifted a 30 foot Traditional Cedar Dugout Canoe carved by Dorey Brotchie during the traditional wedding of Steve and Gloria Wilson. The canoe was part of the dowry that was handed over through the bride's side of the family., along with names, songs and dances.

The Raven Spirit Canoe Family's goal is to promote healing, cultural awareness and unity on the annual Canoe Journey with the youth that participate in the Journey. It is our responsibility as role models for these youth to guide them in positive ways, and to provide them with the opportunity to experience a journey that may change their life. We believe as Native people, that the youth represent the future of Native communities, and that their health and well being determines the future health and well-being of a community.

The Raven Spirit Canoe Family is embarking on this year's Journey to Suquamish, WA in July. The annual Canoe Journey is a significant cultural event which requires great preparation. As many as 100 canoes from as far north as Alaska and as far south as Oregon State will be attending this year's Journey.
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Cindy Minkler
Cindy Minkler, Lakota Sioux, will be playing traditional Lakota music on her cedar flute and drum. Her CD, "Chronological Growth" features original piano compositions that she will be performing today on the piano.

Photos courtesy of the Island County Historical Society