California Tribe Hopes to Woo Salmon Home

[XemaSab]

On Friday night, more than two dozen Native Americans embarked from here on a spiritual mission to New Zealand, where they will ask their fish to come home to California.

The unusual journey centers on an apology, to be relayed to the fish on the banks of the Rakaia River through a ceremonial dance that tribal leaders say has not been performed in more than 60 years.

The fish in question is the Chinook salmon, native to the Pacific but lately in short supply in the rivers of Northern California, home to the Winnemem Wintu — a tiny, federally unrecognized and poor tribe supported by some Social Security payments, a couple of retirement plans and the occasional dog sale.

As the Winnemem see it, the tribe’s troubles began in early 1940s, with the completion of the Shasta Dam, which blocked the Sacramento River and cut off the lower McCloud River, obstructing seasonal salmon runs, and according to the tribe, breaking a covenant with the fish.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/us/21tribes.html

[Dead_Parrot]

1. Salmon? What salmon?

Sorry, not seen any here.

The lemon? Oh that's just for, err, gin and tonic and stuff.

<whistles>

[XemaSab]

2. You are totally spying on me

I had salmon and a G&T for dinner.

And artichokes. :9

[Dead_Parrot]

4. Poor Arthur.

Fishbone, was it?

[malakai2]

3. "We shall woo them home!"

"Chumming shall begin in earnest!"

[depakid]

5. Good luck and a good journey to the Wintu!

[Nihil]

6. "Spiritual mission"?

> a tiny, federally unrecognized and poor tribe supported by some
> Social Security payments, a couple of retirement plans and the
> occasional dog sale.

Hell, sounds like they deserve a holiday - not to mention some
publicity for their "falling numbers" - and I gather NZ is pretty
good as far as holidays spiritual missions are concerned ...

:rofl: