From left, Sarah Moffett, education coordinator for the Tri-State Steelheaders organization, helps Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian reservation member Qumsali Red Elk Wainanwit prepare to release her fish. Moffett asked each student to name and send their fish off with well wishes during their release May 18, 2024, in Walla Walla at the Return to the River Salmon Festival.

WALLA WALLA — A host of tribal, local, and state agencies and programs participated Saturday, May 18, in the Return to the River Salmon Festival in Walla Walla.

The Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the William A. Grant Water & Environmental Center at Walla Walla Community College organized the festifval, according to a press release May 23 from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, which also participated in the festival.

The annual event celebrates the return of salmon to the Walla Walla Basin, highlighting the importance of conservation and community involvement in ecological restoration.

Attendees enjoyed a variety of interactive and educational activities including hands-on displays, obstacle courses, relay races, painting, drawing and water testing experiments.

The CTUIR in large part organized the Return to the River Salmon Festival. The CTUIR Department of Natural Resources had several booths there focused on culture, land, water and wildlife.

The National Park Service hosted a new booth inspired by the Plateau Tribes’ cultural heritage. The booth provided a space for attendees to paint and decorate parflêches — traditional foldable hides used for storage — made of paper. Markers in traditional colors were provided and photos of real parflêches, also known as “Indian suitcases,” were displayed for inspiration. This activity not only engaged participants but educated them about the cultural practices of the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes.

Throughout the festival, there was a strong theme of inclusion of tribal history and traditions among all participating vendors, reflecting the growing relationships and outreach efforts by the CTUIR in the region. Students from the Walla Walla community showcased their advanced knowledge of the Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla tribes through insightful questions that delved deeper into specific cultural history.

A standout attraction was the watershed presentation featuring a model of the 2020 flood level of the Umatilla River. This simulation demonstrated the impact of flood activity on residential areas within the floodplain, offering valuable insights into flood management and prevention strategies.

Another highlight was a video game coded by students from Whitman College’s gaming and outreach program. The game, focused on the Mill Creek Restoration Project, allowed players to navigate a handheld fish controller through the creek, showcasing the significant restoration efforts to support threatened summer steelhead and bull trout. This game gave players a visual way to experience the collaborative efforts between Washington Water Trust, CTUIR, the city of Walla Walla, and local landowners in rewatering 31 miles of Mill Creek and enhancing upstream habitat.

One of the most popular activities for families at the event was releasing young salmon into the river. Students named their fish, give the fish their best and most positive thoughts and then gently released them into the stream.