Yuba River Salmon Ceremony

Saturday October 8th 2011

NEW LOCATION

The Calling Back the Salmon to the Yuba River ceremony will be held at a new location this year. The new location will be at Sycamore Ranch Park, on Highway 20, on October 8th, 2011. This is located on the Yuba River 4.5 miles west of Parks Bar bridge. (below Englebright Dam)

This Drug and Alcohol Free ceremony is hosted by the Tsi Akim Maidu: More information – 530.274.7497

RUNNER INFORMATION

Runner Sign Up

If you are interested in being a Support or Spirit Runner, please complete the Contact Form and let us know that you are interested.  You will receive an email in mid September on the details of the run.

Spirit Runners will be permitted to touch the salmon and will physically carry the salmon (in a special carrier that is constructed for this purpose), which may weigh as much as 35 pounds. All Spirit Runners must adhere to strict criteria established by the Tsi-Akim Maidu in preparation of the run. In preparation for the run, Spirit Runner must “fast” for 48 hours. From 7 am on Thursday, through the end of the run, Spirit Runners shall not consume any salt, grease, meat, alcohol, drugs, or have sexual activity. Tradition dictates that women on their moon cycle are also not permitted to come into physical contact with the spirit salmon. All Spirit Runners must also participate in the Sunrise Ceremony, to be conducted at Sycamore Ranch Park on Highway 20. Spirit Runners must pre-register for the run by 5pm Wednesday, prior to the Saturday ceremony.

There will be a purification ceremony held prior to the ceremony, where those fasting for the ceremony are invited to attend.The time and date of the purification ceremony will be determined in late September. We will contact runners with location and time. There is not a requirement to participate in purification ceremony, however, runners are welcome to attend.

Support Runners will accompany the Spirit Runners throughout the running route. Support Runners are encouraged to pre-register for the event. However, Support Runners can join on the day of the event.

Why Did Wild Salmon Leave?

Big River

BIG RIVER, By Arthur Smoky Jones  

(Sawom Majdy) Buckeye Man

Big River, Big River, where do you come from and where do you go?

You give life to the people and all our bothers, the animals.

You bring Mahi, the Big One, and all his cousins.

You take the thirst from me and bathe me in your coolness.

You bring me the music of your womb and the water bug who dances for you.

You share your gift with all who come.

You know no boundaries for your course is set and no barrier is too big for you.

Your are as gentle as the deer and as ferocious as the grizzly.

My world is very small compared to yours.  

So I ask, “Big River, where do you come from and where do you go?”

A person who prepares himself for Life and Death is a person who has lived.

Photography Archive

Thank you to Hank Meals, author of “Yuba Trails,” for providing the following past ceremony photography!

The First Ceremony

January 2006

On a damp January morning in 2006, a gathering of about 25 people, some science and nature preservation folk, 12 or so  Tsi Akim Tribal members,  joined together with a Spiritual Messenger to pray, offer their intentions and commitment, to help the Indigenous Salmon People return to their ancestral homeland.  In October of 2006, Chairman Ryberg of the Tsi Akim Maidu would begin an annual ceremony at Bridgport State Park to carry on this prayer.