Heritage, art, imagination shape life on the Salish Sea
December 31, 2025
From Indigenous revitalization to evolving music and spiritual spaces, 2025 revealed how culture across the northwest counties continues to honor heritage while embracing change.
In the second of three news retrospectives from 2025, Salish Current looks at culture in Whatcom, San Juan and Skagit counties through a sampling of stories highlighting the region’s shared history, current issues and future possibilities.
A region rich in heritage remembers prominent activist Billy Frank Jr. This year, the Lummi people reclaimed the traditional name of Haida Point, TiLeqw-iLhch. Indigenous teachers continued the plight of language education to the new generation.
Salish Current examined new music spaces and the diverse groups who occupy them. We looked at religion and spirituality — from Western Washington’s “bible belt” to obscure practices such as fairy rituals and much more bringing color and character to our corner of the state. Follow the links below to find even more stories about life this year.
Billy Frank Jr. passed away in 2014 after a lifetime helping adversaries become allies on issues of common interest. Tribal and political leaders say the values that guided him endure as much as the treaty rights he defended and the salmon and habitat he worked to restore. Here, he gives Elwha Klallam Chairwoman Frances Charles a congratulatory kiss at the celebration marking the beginning of deconstruction of the Elwha River dams, Sept. 17, 2011. (Richard Arlin Walker)
South Asians living in Whatcom County now don’t need to head to Canada for a taste of India — they can purchase specialty food and spices at three local Indian grocery stores. Among options, India Mart owners TJ Sekhon (left) and Jasmine Pannu opened their doors in January 2024, with a commitment to give back to the community where they do business. (Catherine Skrzypinski)
In June, the Lummi Nation reclaimed the traditional name for Haida Point on Orcas Island — TiLeqw-iLhch (Tee-luck-each). In the Lummi language, Xwlemi Chosen, TiLeqw-iLhch means “wild strawberry.” To commemorate the event, the Lummi hosted a delegation from the Haida Nation, including four hereditary Haida chiefs, for a day of ceremony, food and gifts. Early in the day, two canoes carried ceremonial participants from Family Tides Farm to TiLeqw-iLhch. (Simon Graf)
This summer marked the 25th anniversary of the Fairy and Human Relations Congress, held this year near Quilcene on the Olympic Peninsula in mid-July, where healers, shamans, druids, farmers, writers and others came to dance, sing and perform rituals to communicate and co-create with “nature spirits, devas and the fairy realms.” Here, fairy congress attendees “fairy charge,” where two groups run toward each other and hug. (Kwai Lam)
In November, Downtown Bellingham hosted the first-ever Salish Sea Poetry Festival, a three-day celebration of verse in all its forms. The weekend culminated in the 2025 Salish Sea Poetry Slam, an audience-rated competition featuring some of the region’s most celebrated spoken word artists. The Kitchen Sessions, hosted and organized by Elizabeth Vignali for several years, makes poetry and those who are curious to listen feel right at home. (Mickey Mann, Salish Current 2025)
Since “Swinomish Lushootseed” made its debut on Apple and Google Play last spring, Olivia Bailey has run into fellow tribal members using the app and greeting her with words once customary to her people. Here, Matt Smak i’ ya’ Warbus teaches Xwlemi Chosen, or Lummi, to a class at Ferndale High School. His favorite Lummi word is “tl’e tl’u tl’e,” which means “tiny.” (Smak i’ ya’)
Hispanic Heritage Month — also called Latino, Latinx or Latine Heritage Month — honors and celebrates the contributions of the Hispanic community in the United States. But since the re-election of Donald Trump, safety concerns surrounding the activity of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, have led organizers to cancel or postpone community events. Nationally, a survey from the Kaiser Family Foundation found that immigrants’ fears surrounding detention and deportation rose sharply, including among those who are naturalized citizens or otherwise lawfully present. Here, Adeliz Hernandez (left) and Zoey Houlihan (right) practice a Mexican folklórico dance in Mount Vernon High School’s auditorium. Students in the folklórico program often travel with the mariachi group and can count the class toward PE credit. (Christy Carley, Salish Current 2025)
Our area’s vibrant Celtic music scene is good craic. “Craic” — pronounced crack — is Gaelic for fun, a good time. In Ireland, people say, “What’s the craic?” an equivalent to English, “What’s up? What’s the news?” But something that’s “good craic” is a great time and has an inviting and fun atmosphere. Here, bows fly in a Celtic festival session at ‘Ono Kitchen and Bar. (Doug Plummer photo, courtesy Cayley Schmid)
The nascent nonprofit, Bellingham Helps Access Music, or BHAM, plans to rent out monthly rehearsal rooms and fund sliding-scale lessons for students interested in genres that are underrepresented in public music education, like rock, pop, electronic and hip-hop. They will also encourage live performances, with support for booking, sound, promotion, concert recordings and photography. Here, BHAM’s board president Thomas Bowen (left) poses with Perkins and Zac Garza (right) owner of Unknown Board Shop. Garza donated a skateboard that was raffled off at BHAM’s August fundraiser. (Janus Kober)
Mitchell Kahn, artistic director of Pacific Northwest Opera, was formerly the house physician for New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Since arriving in Bellingham, he has transformed what was originally Skagit Opera into a place where young singers who are starting their careers in opera can build their resumes. Here, Lynden’s Katie Van Kooten, who made her debut at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in London, sings frequently with Pacific Northwest Opera, including as The Marschallin in the company’s production of “Der Rosenkavalier” in 2023. (Diamonds Edge Photography)
