Culture runs deep at River Honoring event
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FLATHEAD RIVER – Boating, tubing, and swimming just scratches the surface of what the Flathead River has to offer. This flowing bed of water is filled with memories, alive with movement, and a provider of life, according to Tony Incashola, Director of Salish and Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee.
“The river symbolizes the life line of who we are as people,” Incashola said. “We all need water, everything needs water to survive.”
When Incashola was younger, he spent a majority of his summers camping along the river with his family. He would resort to the river for not only fish, but also the bitterroot, medicinal plants, and plenty of other necessities.
“The river was our provider,” Incashola said. “It is the reason we were able to camp for long periods of time.”
The resources the Flathead River provides are endless to Pend d’Oreille, Salish and Kootenai people.
Present day, Incashola is involved in educating the public about the importance the waterway still has on the Tribes’ culture and how they can help preserve the environment. On May 10 and 11 the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes held the 30th annual River Honoring, which gathers area youngsters for lessons in river awareness and land use ethics.
More than 1,200 fourth and fifth grade students got the opportunity to listen to tribal elders speak about the history of the Flathead River, watch how wildlife is impacted by pesticides, and learn the importance of not leaving a trail of garbage while camping.
“Our hope is that these kids will learn first-hand how to take care of the land,” Information and Education Specialist Germaine White said. “We want them to leave with that stewardship.”
This year sisters Dorothy and Virgie Woodcock and the Arlee EAGLES Club were honored for doing their part in preserving the Flathead River.
The Polson Middle School EAGLES Club, made up of seventh and eighth graders, was another group of individuals that set a positive example throughout the day. The group picked up trash along the river and recycled the rubbish left behind after lunch.
“We are practicing what we preach,” EAGLES Club Advisor Amy Williams said. “We are doing our job by promoting environmental advocacy and taking care of our community.”
A fifth grade class from Polson Middle School, along with their teacher Carla Farnstrom, were enjoying a day filled with traditional native games, a lesson on wood-eating insects, and learning how to catch fish using traps. Student Tyneesha Brown was all ears when she heard the word “bugs.”
“I enjoy the nature and like learning about all the different ways insects and animals have to survive,” Brown said. “I don’t get scared or grossed out easily.”
Classmate Cassidy Hendricks was more interested in the competitions.
“The obstacle course is my favorite because you have to be quick,” Hendricks said.
He added that “A river should be clean, fast, shiny, and blue.”
Incashola was pleased to see the students making the hands-on connections needed to make a positive impact.
“We are not on this earth long enough, so we need to do what we can in the short lifetime,” Incashola said. “We need to ensure that the river will be here for generations and generations after us.”
