2nd Annual Columbia River Round Dance

Friday, May 3rd marked the 2nd annual Columbia River Round Dance to honor Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women and People. This evening of community awareness and healing was held at The Dalles Readiness Center.

Nch'i Wana Housing provided the free community dinner for the more than 400 people who attended. The meal would not have been possible without the help of the kitchen volunteers from Riverside Community Church, who did meal prep for the apple crisp and salad the day before and helped make the whole meal the day of. Debra Whitefoot, NWH's Executive Director, donated the salmon for the meal from her personal catch. Hood River farmers Lisa Perry and Swyers Orchards, as well as Rosaurs, donated fresh produce, and Columbia Gorge Food Bank provided a generous community grant to help make this dinner free for all.

And we sure ate good! The meal was baked salmon, roasted potatoes, fruit salad, corn, luukameen (Indian salmon chowder), chili beans, yeast rolls, and fry bread with apple crisp and cupcakes for dessert. We had an awesome crew of volunteers helping make and serve the food. NWH Outreach staff Jason and Tierra tabled at the event along with other community organizations and Native food and art vendors. Debra even won two baskets in the night's raffle!

It was a wonderful evening full of dancing, Native vendors, community awareness, and powerful testimonies from our guest speakers. Thank you to all the community partners that made the evening possible.

Photos by NWH, Kristin Warnock, Dawn Kenoras, & CRITFC