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Samish Library

Winter 2023

Nov 27, 2023, 12:15 by Cheryl Chatt, Samish Library Assistant

Hello, everyone! Already we are here for the last Reader’s Window of 2023! I hope this finds all of you doing well, and enjoying all the good things this holiday season brings.

This quarter’s article will focus on our monthly book club discussions, as well as once again highlighting our new digital collection of e-books and audiobooks.

For our November book club discussion, our featured book was The Language Warriors Manifesto by Anton Treuer. We were joined by Gabe Port, Samish Language Multimedia Specialist who was a welcome addition to our conversation.

Author Treuer is a professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University, the author of Everything You Wanted to Know About Indians But Were Afraid to Ask, in addition to thirteen other books on Indigenous history and language. Treuer’s book tells of the work that he has done with his own Ojibwe tribe to preserve the language in his community. It is easy to see that preserving his tribe’s language is something that he feels passionate about, and it falls into the “life’s work” category. In his view, language and culture go hand in hand. He goes into detail about how he began this work, the elders that he cultivated relationships with as mentors, and the work that included building relationships with young people to keep the language alive.

December’s book is Two Old Women by Velma Wallis on December 12th (virtual) at 6:00 pm, and January’s book is Noopiming by Leanne Betasamosake Simpson on January 9th (virtual) at 6:00 pm. These titles are available as audiobooks and e-books in the Samish Digital Library, as well as print copies in our physical library. We would love to have you join us for our monthly book club discussions.

As some of you already know, last spring we launched a free digital library on the Libby app available to Samish citizens anywhere in the world. This growing collection of 17 audiobooks and 22 e-books includes local Indigenous histories, legends, histories, and memoirs, as well as nationally popular titles. Having this digital library has been an excellent way to allow Samish citizens living outside the area to have access to our library and to participate in our monthly book club discussions. Our hands go up to Thea Roe, Samish Event Planner, for her hard work in making our digital library a reality, and one that is being used and much appreciated. Hóy7sxwq’e, Thea!

For assistance in getting started on the Libby app, or to recommend a new book title for the digital collection, please contact me, Cheryl Chatt, at cchatt@samishtribe.nsn.us, or Thea Roe at troe@samishtribe.nsn.us.

For making this all possible, our hands go up to Samish Indian Nation Tribal Council, Samish IT, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services Enhancement Grant.

The Samish Indian Nation Library now has expanded hours. The library is open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. As always, I look forward to sharing our growing collection of titles with you.

Take care, be well, and enjoy the holidays with friends and family.

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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