Siletz Tribal Members to Host Event to Honor Whale that Washed Ashore Last Fall in Yachats

Siletz tribal members to host event to honor whale that washed ashore last fall in Yachats

A group of Siletz Indians are holding a presentation Saturday, June 6 to honor a humpback whale that washed ashore near Yachats last fall and died. The event is to help non-Natives understand the historical and cultural significance of these mammals.The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians sent a team in mid-November to do a traditional salvage of the whale, a common practice for coastal Native people for centuries. The bones, blubber and balee…

Tribe to describe whale salvage tradition — Oregon Coast TODAY

Photo courtesy Oregon State University Marine Mammal Institute/Craig Hayslip Oregon has come a long way since 1970, when a whale carcass in Florence was blown up with disastrous results. The fate of a whale that recently washed up in Yachats was much more meaningful.This Saturday, June 6, members of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians will explain how the tribe is using parts from the whale in ways that reflect the cultural and spiritual r…