All invited to Earth Day event Friday, April 20

The public is invited to the Colville Tribal “Earth Day” celebration, Friday, April 20, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Indian Agency powwow grounds.

Organizers were hoping for over a thousand people turning out to take part in activities and visiting displays and information booths.

Joaquin Bustamante said that last year about 600 attended the event and that he has been working to expand activities and increase attendance.

“We have over 50 booths scheduled and many of those will be giving away things,” he said.

“It is not just a tribal event,” Bustamante emphasized, “it is a community event.

The event is catering to school children from at least four schools.

Giveaways include a reclaimed riding lawnmower, a flat screen TV, a composter, a barbecue grill, basketball tickets for Gonzaga men’s and women’s games, and dinner tickets. An energy efficient washer and dryer, donated by Loepp Furniture, will be raffled off during the Friday program.

“And that’s only part of it,” Bustamante said.

Bustamante appeared at the Grand Coulee Dam Area Chamber of Commerce to invite business owners to put up displays or booths to explain what they do.

Bustamante stated that school children from surrounding schools have been invited to attend the affair. Free hot dogs will be available for those attending.

The event has reached such proportions that Northwest Indian News Television plans to cover it, Bustamante noted.

Plans also call for native dancers and a drummer and horse riders in traditional native costumes will arrive to kick off festivities.