Penn Cove Water Festival - 2011
2011's Penn Cove Water Festival (see map) continued 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.
Photos courtesy of the Island County Historical Society
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.
2010 was the 19th 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.
The 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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2011 Canoe Race Schedule
RACES BEGIN AT NOON
AT CAPT. COUPE BOAT LAUNCH ON NINTH STREET
Family Canoes will can be seen at the boat launch or out on Penn Cove as they paddle and perform their protocol during the day.
Races subject to change depending on types/numbers of canoes to register.
Races with 2011 sponsors
1) Single Man Race - Toby's Tavern
2) Single Woman Race - Toby's Tavern
3) Mixed Doubles Race - Nahma Investments
4) 6 Jr. Buckskin Race - Coupeville Inn, Lavender Wind Farm, Whidbey Watershed Stewards
5) 6 Buckskin Race - George Lloyd, Elkhorn Trading Co.
6) 6 Woman Race - The Jenne Farm
7) 6 Man race - Sandra Dubpernell, Compass Rose Bed and Breakfast, Jim Sherman, Michael Ferri, Jill Hein
8) 11 Jr. Buckskin Race - Coupeville Lions
9) 11 Buckskin Race - Ken and Nan Leaman/Penn Cove Veterinary Clinic, Anchorage Inn, Susan Berta, Sarah Schmidt, Luce Ed Computing Support
10) 11 Woman Race - Penn Cove Shellfish
11) 11 Man race - Penn Cove Shellfish
Family Canoes - Puget Sound Energy, Orca Network, Ralph and Karen Munro
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Water Festival canoe race results
1-Man [25 canoes entered (!!)]
1st - David Williams, River Spirit, Chilliwack Landing (Skwah Band) B.C.
2nd - Robby George, didn't get canoe name, Chehalis
3rd - Justin Williams, didn't get canoe name, Chilliwack Landing (Skwah Band) B.C.
1-Woman [11 canoes]
1st - Debby Rebang, Skowkale Band of the Sto:lo Nation Stahlo Canoe Club
2nd - Rose Green, Nooksack
3rd - Natasha, Skowkale Band of the Sto:lo Nation Stahlo Canoe Club
Mixed Doubles [7 canoes]
1st - David Williams and partner, River Spirit, Chilliwack Landing (Skwah Band) B.C.
2nd - Walter Point and Lana Johnson, Skowkale First Nation Five Star Canoe Club
3rd - John and Sess Balou, Lummi
6 Jr. Buckskin [8 canoes]
1st - Lightning, Autumn Rose/Lummi
2nd - Sweet Sister, Lummi
3rd - Lil Cree, Lummi
6 Buckskin [6 canoes]
1st - Little Five Star, Skowkale First Nation Five Star Canoe Club
2nd - Sweet Sister, Lummi
3rd - Lil Cree, Lummi
6 Woman [8 canoes]
1st - Stahlo Princess, Skowkale Band of the Sto:lo Nation Stahlo Canoe Club
2nd - Lil Cree, Lummi
3rd - Little Five, Skowkale First Nation Five Star Canoe Club
6 Man [6 canoes]
1st - Xwa' xwos, Chilliwack Landing (Swkah Band) B.C.
2nd - King Fisher, Skowkale First Nation Five Star Canoe Club
3rd - Rocky 1, Chehalis
11 Jr. Buckskin [5 canoes]
1st - Lady Rose, Lummi
2nd - Autumn Rose, Autumn Rose/Lummi
3rd - Rikkole Cree, Ultimate Warrior
11 Buckskin [3 canoes]
1st - Lady Rose, Lummi
2nd - Autumn Rose, Autumn Rose/Lummi
3rd - Rikkole Cree, Ultimate Warrior
11 Woman [5 canoes]
1st - Lady Rose, Lummi
2nd - Autumn Rose, Autumn Rose/Lummi
3rd - Eyem tha:le, Chehalis
11 Man [5 canoes]
1st - Little Sister, Chilliwack Landing (Swkah Band) B.C.
2nd - Mountain Breeze, Skowkale First Nation Five Star Canoe Club
3rd - Lady Rose, Lummi
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2011 Performances
Thanks to a grant from the Coupeville Festival Association and the Washington State Arts Commission, the Penn Cove Water
Festival will feature the following performances in downtown Coupeville during
the Water Festival:
Performances - Main Stage:
The Main Stage is on Front and Alexander Street
11 - noon - Shifty Sailors - Sea Shanties and Maritime Music, arrive down the street in their striped glory to open up the festival!
12:45 - 1:45 - Swil Kanim- Native violin player and story teller
2:15 - 3:00 - Peter Ali - Flute and much more
3:30 - 4:00 - Elaine Miles (Marilyn on Northern Exposure)
4:30 - 6:00 Tsimshian Haayuk Dancers - Traditional and ceremonial dances involving you, the audience
In-between performers, we'll hear updates about the canoe races, festival history, the art show, and opportunities to purchase CD's and meet the many talented musicians that are a part of this festival!
In the Museum:
Noon and 3:00pm: Lou LaBombard, storyteller, professor of Anthropology and member of the Seneca Nation will tell native stories that will keep the entire family enthralled.
1:00pm: Mike Sato, from People for Puget Sound, will speak on Saving Puget Sound: a people's campaign.
2:00pm: Michael Bennett, author of Devil Dolphins of the Silver Lagoon, accompanied by his "assistant," National Geographic photographer Flip Nicklin, will read and tell about stories from photography expeditions for National Geographic Magazine.
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Performer Descriptions/Bios:
Elaine Miles
Elaine Miles is an actress who was raised as a member of the Umatilla tribe just outside of Seattle, Washington. She is known for her role as Marilyn in the popular CBS' television series "Northern Exposure." She was named as the Native American Woman of the Year 1993 and America's Celebrity Indian of the Year in 1995.
Elaine took some personal time to care for her terminally ill mother and now she returns to TV in the SCI FI Channels Original Movie "Wyvern" which premiered on January 31, 2009. During her hiatus, she also honed her comedic skills and now does a "brutally honest and unique brand" of comedy!
Born on April 7th in Pendleton, Oregon, Elaine Miles was raised in the Seattle area and is a member of the Cayuse and Nez Perce Tribes. As a youth she "Rodeo'd and Pow wow'd" and rode around on the combines trucks. An accomplished beader and corn husk weaver, Elaine has been beading and weaving since she was 8 years old.
Since Northern Exposure which aired from 1990-1995, Miles has appeared in several films, including Mad Love (1994,) Smoke Signals (1997), The Business of Fancydancing (2002) and Skins (2002), and appeared on CBC's half-hour series "The Rez" as Etta the medicine woman.
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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.
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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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.