Submitted by Quinault Indian Nation
Chief Taholah Days, commemorating the signing of the Quinault Treaty on July 1, 1855, commences Saturday, July 1, and continues through Tuesday, July 4. The event, which is Quinault Indian Nation’s biggest celebration of the year, features a vast array of events ranging from basketball and boxing tournaments to cedar canoe races on the Quinault River.
“Chief Taholah Days is always a lot of fun for everyone,” said Quinault Nation President Fawn Sharp. “But it is also a celebration of the culture and traditions of our people and a commemoration of the foresight and wisdom of our ancestors who seven generations ago retained our way of life by protecting our rights in our treaty with the federal government. It is so appropriate that they signed it on the fourth of July 162 years ago. Quinault Nation citizens are also citizens of the United States. Many have served and sacrificed in the U.S. military, and we celebrate their service as well. As we grow and prosper as a tribal nation we choose to do so in concert with the federal government and all other citizens of our great republic,” she said.
Celebration with tribal dance and song, regalia and games is a traditional form of commemorating great and historic people and events, according to President Sharp.
“It is our honor to open the Quinault Nation Reservation, including our beaches, to the public as a gesture of brotherhood and sisterhood,” said Sharp. “We invite one and all to come join us and respectfully celebrate our Quinault Nation Treaty and the birth date of the United States of America,” she said.
Taholah Days is an alcohol and drug free event (this includes marijuana).
Saturday’s events are to include:
Adult Bingo – 11:00 a.m. Taholah School Cafeteria
3 on 3 Basketball – 11:00 a.m. Upper Courts Snob Hill
Hypnotist-Marianna Matthews – 2:00 p.m. Taholah School Gym (Free)
Kids Bingo – 2:00 p.m. Taholah School Cafeteria
Cultural Jam – 6:00 p.m. Taholah School Gym
Movies in the Park – 9:30 p.m. Heritage Park
Sunday:
Fun Run/Walk- CTD Sponsor – 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Community Center
Softball Tourney – 9:00 a.m. Tribal Office Fields
Family Fun Day/BBQ -12:00 p.m. School Field
Watermelon Eating Contest -12:30 p.m. Taholah School Field
Hypnotist-Marianna Matthews -3:30 p.m. Taholah School Gym (Free)
Canoe Races – 8:00 p.m. Riverfront
Dance – 9:00 p.m. Heritage Park
Monday:
Fun Run/Walk—Diabetes – 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. Fitness Center
Volleyball Tourney – 9:00 a.m. Tribal Office Field
Field Sports – 11:30 a.m. Taholah School
Honoring of the Canoe Racers – 12:30 p.m. Heritage Park
Royalty Pageant – 2:00 p.m. Heritage Park (May be held at School Cafeteria if raining)
Horse Shoe Tourney – 3:30 p.m. Sea Breeze Stadium
Cultural Contest – 3:30 p.m. Heritage Park (singing, dancing, drumming)
Scavenger Hunt – 4:00 p.m. Heritage Park
Amateur Boxing – 7:00 p.m. Community Center
Canoe Races – 8:30 p.m. Riverfront
Dance – 9:00 p.m. Heritage Park
Tuesday
Parade – 12:00 p.m. (Line Up at Housing Office)
Talent Show – 1:30 p.m. Heritage Park (May be held at School Cafeteria if raining)
Field Sports – 3:30 p.m. Taholah School
Boxing – 6:00 p.m. Community Center
Canoe Races – 9:00 p.m. Riverfront
Fireworks – Dusk Riverfront
Taholah Days will also feature firework sales, including bottle rockets and fire crackers, merchandise vendors and food stands serving Indian tacos, Mexican and BBQ foods, curly fries, corn on the cob, etc.
There will be prizes for most events, e.g., the parade, talent show and boxing. For more information OR to sign up contact Raven Bryson at 360-276-8211 ext. 4610 or Misty Schmidt ext. 4611. For Vendor information, contact Sue Kalama ext. 228.
