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Samish Library

Spring 2023

Nov 14, 2023, 08:14 by Cheryl Chatt, Samish Library Assistant

Exciting news—Samish citizen Abigail Bergan, representing her organization Papaji’s Pages, has gifted the Samish Library a very generous donation of $1500 to purchase educational books and materials for our library. This is the third gift that our library has received from Ms. Bergan’s organization. It is an honor, and our hands go up to Abigail and Papaji’s Pages for this continued support of Samish Indian Nation Library. Look for new books and materials to be arriving soon!

In this current edition of Reader’s Window, we will be highlighting two of our newer titles, ones that will hopefully capture your imagination for summer reading. The first title is Plants of Haida Gwaii, 3rd Edition by Nancy J. Turner. Author Turner is a “Distinguished Professor Emerita in the School of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria. …For over 50 years she has worked closely with indigenous elders, her teachers, collaborators, and friends, to document the critically important heritage of indigenous botanical and ecological knowledge.”

Beautifully illustrated with photographs, this book is a reference for harvesting plants and plant materials for food and medicine and it also speaks to the spiritual and ceremonial aspects of gathering plants and plant materials. There is a section on harvesting cedar bark and spruce roots for basket making.

From the back cover: “Plants of Haida Gwaii, written with the cooperation and collaboration of the Haida, is a detailed and insightful record of the uses and importance to the Haida of over 150 species of native plants. Moreover, it draws on the knowledge and understanding that enabled the Haida to use the resources of their islands sustainably from one generation to the next for thousands of years.”

The second newer title is All the Real Indians Died Off: And 20 Other Myths about Native Americans by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz and Dina Gilio-Whitaker. Author Dunbar-Ortiz also wrote An Indigenous Peoples’ History of the United States. Written in 2016, this thought-provoking book challenges commonly held beliefs. Different myths discussed as chapters include: “Columbus Discovered America, Indians Were Savage and Warlike, The United States Gave Indians Their Reservations and The United States Did Not Have a Policy of Genocide.” From the Author’s Note: “…To know personally the myths and stereotypes about Indians is to grow up hearing the narratives behind those myths, knowing that they were lies being told about you and your family and that you were expected to explain yourself at the demands of others. That lived Native experience, however, is also about reclamation. For us as scholars it is reclaiming stolen pasts through scholarship, storytelling, relationship building and acknowledging our ancestry.”

Welcome summer—and sunnier days ahead!

Salish Sea Day (Bowman Bay)


Join Samish and Swinomish Canoe families for free canoe rides on the bay, songs, stories, and artist demonstrations.

Dates: 07 – 07 Jun, 2025

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Culture Talk: Community + Family Teachings (online)

Anacortes, WA

Learn about cultural, community, and family teachings.

Dates: 10 – 10 Jun, 2025

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Wild Waves (Federal Way)


Gather for a fun day out with other Samish families and individuals.

Dates: 14 – 14 Jun, 2025

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Anacortes Pride (Anacortes)

Anacortes,

Walk with Samish in the Anacortes Pride Parade.

Dates: 21 – 21 Jun, 2025

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Annual Elders Luncheon


Samish Elders and intertribal Elders are invited!

Dates: 27 – 27 Jun, 2025

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June Culture Day (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Join us at Samish’s Summit Park campus! Explore the Beaver Lodge carving studio, Chelángen building, and our library of more than 4,000 titles.

Dates: 28 – 28 Jun, 2025

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Lunch (Summit Park)

Anacortes, WA

Meet and catch up with Samish families over a shared lunch.

Dates: 28 – 28 Jun, 2025

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Canoe Naming Ceremony (Cannery Building)


Come to celebrate the naming of Samish’s repatriated cedar canoe.

Dates: 28 – 28 Jun, 2025

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Salish Sea Háwe7 (Anacortes)

Anacortes, WA

Explore the Samish homelands by water with Island Adventures.

Dates: 28 – 28 Jun, 2025

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Culture Talk: Community + Family Teachings (online)

Anacortes, WA

Learn about cultural, community, and family teachings.

Dates: 08 – 08 Jul, 2025

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Samish Youth Playday

Anacortes, WA

Come celebrate summer with us at a fun-filled afternoon designed just for Samish youth and families! This community event is all about joy, movement, and connection — and it’s completely FREE.

Dates: 19 – 19 Jul, 2025

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Canoe Journey - Samish Landing (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Canoe Journey is landing in Samish territory for a shared dinner, followed by open floor.

Dates: 25 – 26 Jul, 2025

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Camp Samish (Samish Island)

Bow, WA

Save the date for Camp Samish 2025!

Dates: 29 Aug – 01 Sep, 2025

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Fall Cultural Gathering (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Fall Cultural Gathering at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 20 – 20 Sep, 2025

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Harvest Fest (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Samish Harvest Fest at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 01 – 01 Nov, 2025

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Christmas Party (Fidalgo Bay Resort)

Anacortes, WA

Save the date for the annual Samish Christmas Party at Fidalgo Bay Resort.

Dates: 06 – 06 Dec, 2025

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Virtual Christmas Party (online)


Save the date for the annual Virtual Samish Christmas Party.

Dates: 12 – 12 Dec, 2025

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