Earth Day event on Friday

The Colville Confederated Tribes is hosting their 8th Annual Celebration of Earth Day on Friday, April 21st, the day before Earth Day, at the Colville Agency powwow grounds near Nespelem. The event is scheduled to last from 10 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., and is free to the public.

The event is expecting 57 interactive and informative booths, with people travelling from as far as Seattle to participate. One booth, presented by the Colville Tribes Fish & Wildlife department, includes what is called a “Swoosh Machine,” a vacuum-based fish transporting device that has been proposed instead of a fish ladder on upper Columbia River dams.

The event, which is organized by the Colville Tribal Recycling Program, Environmental Trust Department, as well as Colville Indian Housing, is expecting an attendance of around 1,500 people, including more than 500 students from Lake Roosevelt, Omak, Pascal Sherman, Keller, and Nespelem schools.

The event will include drummers and dancers dressed in traditional regalia.

A raffle will include prizes such as a recliner provided by Loepps Furniture, an $800 Traeger grill from Coulee Hardware, and a baseball bat autographed by former Seattle Mariner Edgar Martinez provided by Printer Cartridge Recycling, a Tacoma based company. Over $11,000 worth of items will be given away in total, bought with money provided by donations from a number of local and national organizations and companies.

A free barbecue will also be provided and will include hotdogs, beverages, and dessert.

The Colville Tribes invitation to the event says the purpose is to “share knowledge on how to become good stewards to the environment. This task is serious as we face issues of climate change, pollution to our air and water, and contamination to the soils. It is a responsibility we all must share as we find ways to resolve these issues and make changes in our lives to lessen the impact to the environment.”

“The event is about something the tribes have always emphasized, which is protecting Mother Earth,” said Joaquin Bustamante, recycling manager for the Colville Tribes. “Leave your wallets at home and come see an awesome event.”