In support of a mission

The Colville Tribes launched a dugout canoe Friday from the Spring Canyon boat launch, on a mission to revive an old tradition in support of exploring a new possibility: bringing salmon back to the upper Columbia River. The cedar canoe and its crew are headed to a rendezvous at Kettle Falls, where tribes from across the Northwest once gathered annually to harvest salmon before Grand Coulee Dam was built. The Colvilles met up with Spokanes and Coeur d'Alenes on Lake Roosevelt on Tuesday and headed for Hunters. They planned to be at Inchelium Wednesday, en route to Kettle Falls Friday. The canoe, built in Nespelem, is one of several built from logs donated by the Upper Columbia United Tribes, which is promoting the idea of studying the return of the salmon. - Bob Valen photo