11:00 - 11:30 Welcome / Announcements with PCWF President Gary Piazzon, Coupeville Mayor Molly Hughes, Samish Elder Rosie James and PCWF Native American Advisor Lou LaBombard (Seneca)
11:30-11:50 Dedication of Festival in Memory of Tsimshain Haayuuk Elder Doreen May Nathan and Artist Roger Purdue

12:00-12:45 Shifty Sailors (Sea Shanties)
1:00-1:45 Peter Ali (Flute Music)
2:00-2:45 Swil Kanim (Violin/Stories)
3:00-3:45 Rona Yellowrobe and Bruce (Songs/Stories
4:00-5:00 Tshimshian Haayuuk Dancers (Traditional Dancing)

* Announcements will be made between performances concerning the canoe races!

* MC - Rick Castillano
* Canoe Racing Announcers Freddy Lane & Michael Vendiola
* Lou LaBombard will be telling Native American Myths and Legends in the Coupeville Museum downstairs.

*** May 17 Native American Myths and Legends at Pacific Rim Institute around the bonfire at 7:30 by Lou LaBombard (Haudenosaunee) Anthropologist/lecturer/storyteller

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Performer Descriptions/Bios:

Rosie James
Rosie James is an elder and former Cultural Development Coordinator for the Samish Indian Nation. She was born and raised in Anacortes and attended school s in the area. She takes her name from her paternal great grandfather, Louis Cayou. Her maternal great grandfather, John Stone, was born at Ship Harbor across from Guemes Island. Her passion is sharing Oral History which was handed down to her and her brothers during meal times. Rosie was mentored by her grandmother. She usually accompanied the tribal elders to gather shellfish, salmon, bottom fish, and plants. She was taught to gather traditional foods, where to find it, how to collect it, how to prepare it and most importantly when (what seasons) to gather it. Her great grandfather was the first Anglo settler on Orcas Island hailing from France. Since 2010 Rosie has made her home on Guemes Island, the birthplace of her grandfather. Rosie’s partner, Bill Bailey, is a well-known Northwest Native American carver. Rosie enjoys teaching concepts by telling stories and presenting Oral History. She intrigues audiences throughout the Pacific Northwest as she shares her grandmother's stories and Tribal culture.
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The Shifty Sailors
The Shifty Sailors are a male singing group from Whidbey Island and are UNIQUE because they are one of the only large groups in the US dedicated to a nautical repertoire. They are well known for their enthusiastic singing and crowd-pleasing presentations. Their main mission is to make sure the surrounding maritime communities understand their own nautical history and do this by singing at festivals, senior centers, schools and any other venue where they are invited to share their songs with the public. The Shiftys consider themselves Ambassadors of Whidbey Island, the State of Washington and the United States when they travel which they have done so extensively to perform in such places as Bergen, Norway in 2001; Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Germany and Denmark in 2003; Ireland, Wales, England and France in 2005; Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Main Seaports in 2007; Lahaina and Kihei on the Island of Maui in 2009; Cesky Krumlov and Prague in the Czech Republic – the first American group to perform at the International Shanty Chorus Festival in 2010; and a West Coast Tour from Aberdeen, WA to Monterey, CA in 2013.
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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 since 2000, Peter has performed all over the Puget Sound and played, with others, for the Dalai Lama during the 2014 Seeds of Compassion Tour in Seattle.

Peter is descended from his Mother who is of Mayan and Lower Pima heritage from 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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Swil Kanim
Swil Kanim is a world class virtuoso violinist who advocates self-expression to create stronger community. He is aa US Army Veteran, classically trained violinist, native storyteller and actor, and a member of the Lummi Nation. He intertwines his music with storytelling, poetry, and audience interaction. Swil Kanim is a sought-after key-note speaker for conferences, workshops, school assemblies and recreation centers. He is also a notable actor who starred as "Mouse" in Sherman Alexie's highly acclaimed movie The Business of Fancydancing in 2022.
Swil Kanim considers himself and his music to be the product of a well-supported public school music program. Music and the performance of music helped him to process the traumas associated with his early placement into the Foster Care system. His compositions incorporate classical influences as well as musical interpretations of his journey from depression and despair to spiritual and emotional freedom. The music and stories that emerge from his experiences have been transforming people's lives for decades. His original compositions are mesmerizing and inspiring to all ages alike, so bring the whole family when he is performing.
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Rona Yellow Robe
Rona Yellow Robe is a Cree and African American Woman, born and raised in Havre, Montana, and is an enrolled members of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of Rocky Boy, Montana. Rona picked up her first flute in 2002 and has been on a musical and spiritual journey ever since. Rona is known for her powerful vocal ability, Native American flute style, Storytelling talents,,and heart-filled presence. Rona and Bruce Witham have been creating music together since May, 2008. They have recorded four award winning albums, "Voice of the Trees" (2009), "The Gathering" (2012), a Christmas album entitled "Lighting Our Way" (2013), "Shoot For The Moon" (2016), and most recently, their fifth album, Sunday's Child.  Along with winning Native American Music Awards 2014 and 2016 Flutist of the Year, Rona and Bruce received the Native American Music Awards nominations as Songwriters of the Year for their song, "Voice of the Trees." Their album, "The Gathering" was Nominated for Record of the Year, and Female Vocalist for their Christmas CD, "Lighting Our Way".In the year 2019, Rona was award by the Native American Style Flute Association, North American Indigenous Flutist of the Year . They have always said, "We will perform for 5 or 1,500." They have done both. For Rona and Bruce, it's all about blessing people's lives with the music. Their music is created with the intention to inspire, uplift, and fill the listener with peace, hope, happiness, leading to visions of joy, love, and prosperity. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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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Lou 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 22 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 with a grown son living in Bothel who works for a telecommunication company. Lou lives with his wife on a small farm on Whidbey Island. Fishing and hunting are favored pasttimes.

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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Photos courtesy of the Island County Historical Society