<p>Sascha Quaempts plays with a book in the inflatable salmon during the 2011 Salmon Walk at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute in Mission.</p>

 

A full day of activities is planned Saturday at Tamástslikt Cultural Institute as it teams up with Whitman Mission during the Salmon Walk fundraiser. People are encouraged to enjoy the day at Tamástslikt and spend time at the Naamí Nisháycht the Living Culture Village.

In its 17th year, the Salmon Walk includes running and bicycle races, childrens activities, tours of spawning salmon and a kabob lunch. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Medals will be awarded for each competitive race, which all depart from Tamástslikt, located at 47106 Wildhorse Blvd., in Mission. The 53-mile Steelhead Cycle starts at 7:10 a.m., the 10K Spawn Run at 8 a.m., and the 5K Smolt Run at 8:30 a.m. The non-competitive Fun Walk/Run/Bike begins at 9 a.m.

Those planning to go on the salmon spawning tour need to gather at 6:45 a.m., with a departure time of 7 a.m. from Tamástslikt. The ride will take participants to the upper Umatilla River on the Umatilla National Forest to observe live, natural, wild salmon on their spawning beds. An experienced guide will narrate points of interest along the way.

Spawning tour participants are encouraged to bring cameras, comfortable walking shoes, binoculars and sunglasses. The bus will return around 11 a.m.

In addition, the Kanine Ridge bus departs at 7 a.m. The challenging climb is a 6.5 mile hike up Kanine Ridge Road, which starts near Cayuse and ends at the Deadmans Pass rest area along Interstate 84. The ridge is an incline all the way to the top.

Those participating in the hike need to wear appropriate gear and bring water. There will be a support vehicle along hike for participants that need assistance. Participants will be picked up at Deadmans Pass and transported back to Tamástslikt in time for lunch and other activities.

Money raised during the Salmon Walk helps supplement local schools with natural resources curriculum, including the annual Salmon Expedition, held each spring for more than 2,000 local students.

Highlighting traditional culture, the focus of the outdoor village Friday through Sunday is families and gender roles, including how family units assist in survival. The village is open from from 10 a.m. to noon and 1-3 p.m.

In addition, visitors can meet David Douglas, the botanist whos the namesake of the Douglas fir tree. Highlights include learning about the skills of a frontier scientist and hearing stories of what Douglas did while in the Blue Mountains.

Whitman Mission rangers will be in the village Saturday from 1-4 p.m. to present Project WILD Salmon Activities in conjunction with the Salmon Walk. There will be hands-on art, physical education, fishing, reading, stream habitat, and surprises and prizes for participants.

To register in advance for Salmon Walk activities, go to www.umatilla.nsn.us/salmonwalk.html. For more information, contact Wenix Red Elk at wenixredelk@ctuir.org or 541-429-7219. For information about village activities, contact Tamástslikt at 541-966-9748, tci.education@tamastslikt.org or go to www.tamastslikt.org.

Contact Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesini@eastoregonian.com or 541-564-4539