On May 18, 2024 we look forward to again hosting the Native American Canoe Races on Penn Cove and Native American vendors and entertainers in Coupeville. We look forward to welcoming you all back!
March 9 is Billy Frank Jr. Day. Please join the Western Washington treaty tribes in remembering this legendary man and his lifelong battle for salmon and treaty fishing rights.
In 2021, the Washington legislature passed a bill to commemorate Billy Frank Jr. with a statue in the U.S. Capitol. Click HERE for more information.
For more information and videos about Billy Frank Jr. and his life's work please click HERE.
Special Events - 2024
STORY TELLING at PRI on FRIDAY MAY 17 at 7:30pm
As a prelude to the Penn Cove Water Festival on May 18, 2024, Lou LaBombard will tell stories around the campfire.
Lou is a retired tenured professor of Anthropology at Skagit Valley College, Whidbey Campus, where had taught for 5 years. He is a Seneca-Mohawk of the Iroquois Confederacy, a Viet Nam Vet and served as an airborne paramedic.
Lou 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 storytelling and oral traditions, to various subjects relating to the archaeology and history of the West, Southwest and Pacific Northwest coast. He has also studied the techniques for retention of traditional cultures of select Native American groups compared with the Maori of New Zealand.
His stories from Native American oral traditions will keep the entire family enthralled.
Island County Museum
The Island County Museum, located at the foot of the historic Coupeville Wharf, will be open (admission by donation) during the Water Festival. The museum interprets 120,000 years of Island County History: from an Ice Age tree trunk, to mammoth remains, to the first car on Whidbey Island.
In addition, the Museum will be showcasing another special exhibit:
The history and background of the Penn Cove Water Festival.
(Please note: Museum restrooms are closed during the festival.)
See Russell Morton's amazing
The Four Seasons of Water
In 2019 Russell donated his completed work to the Island County Museum where it is on permanent display in the Native People Exhibit. We thank Russell for his generous gift.
Russell once posted that "the Four Seasons of Waters" constructed will have passed 8 years and continues to be more interesting. It is an ultimate form of intense, slow art. Intense remains revenant in our modern world, but slow is gone with the horse and buggy for regular travel."
Sno-Isle Libraries
Sno-Isle Library Upcoming Events
The Penn Cove Water Festival hopes to see the Schooner Suva back at the Wharf for the May 18, 2024 Festival. Visit Schooner Suva for pricing and additional information.
For more information contact Jim at 360-320-4337 or info@schoonersuva.org.
Pacific Rim Institute
Lowland Prairie was managed and utilized by the Native Americans for thousands of years. Today, native prairie is Washington State's fastest disappearing ecosystem. Come and tour a remnant of this prairie at the Pacific Rim Institute. The prairie will be in full bloom and we can't wait to share it with you. Naturalists will take you off trail into the heart of the prairie and tell you about the natural history, the present state and the future plans for native lowland prairie here at the Pacific Rim Institute for Environmental Stewardship. Click here for Directions to Pacific Rim Institute.
GIFTS OF BREAD
Extending the Hand of Friendship
The Annual Penn Cove Water Festival, every May, commemorates and celebrates connections with our Native American heritage. This is a free family festival on the waterfront in Historic Coupeville, Whidbey Island, WA. It is a fun-packed event filled with favorite Native American canoe races, performers, arts and crafts vendors with youth activities and educational exhibits.
This event also provides a unique opportunity for local residents to become involved by "extending a hand of friendship" to the Native guests. In following the custom of Native Americans and First Nations of Canada, who show their hospitality to their visitors by presenting gifts, the community welcomes the participants through giving gifts of homemade bread.
You are invited to join in this gesture of hospitality by baking a loaf of bread (any kind from white, whole wheat to zucchini is acceptable). Your gift will be wrapped and presented to the distinguished guests, canoe pullers, entertainers, vendors and exhibitors. Click here to sign up to bake bread.
A ceremonial gifting of a loaf of bread takes place at the Opening Ceremony on Main Stage at 11am and the Welcoming Ceremony at the Boat Launch at Noon. Throughout the day loaves of bread are presented to the Canoe Clubs, Entertainers and other guests. For more information contact the Bread Committee at penncovewaterfestival@gmail.com - Use Bread in Subject Line.
Volunteers for other parts of the Festival are needed on the day of the Festival. If interested, click here to sign-up or contact the Volunteer Coordinators at the same email and Use Volunteer in Subject Line.