NEAH BAY — Two more days of festivities will celebrate the Makah culture in Neah Bay during the 99th Annual Makah Days.
The celebration began Friday with canoe races, a talent show and fireworks, as well as the first day of the street fair.
Today will be offered a grand parade, traditional salmon bake and a slahal tournament among other activities.
On Sunday will be the 3-mile Bahokus Peak Challenge, which is entirely uphill with an elevation gain of almost 1,400 feet.
Makah Days is an opportunity for members of the Makah Tribe to reunite with those who have moved away as well as neighboring tribes from Washington State and First Nations members from Vancouver Island in Canada. Some family members come from Vancouver Island since the Makah are closely related to the Nuu-chah-nulth.
On addition to commemorating thousands of years of Makah culture, the festival marks the anniversary of becoming citizens of the United States.
The first American flag was raised in Neah Bay on Aug. 26, 1913 though it wasn’t until June 2, 1924 when all Native Americans were granted the right to vote, including the members of the Makah Tribe, which includes veterans of World War II, Vietnam and Korea and all major conflicts.
Here is the schedule for today and Sunday.
Today
• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Softball Tournament.
• 10 a.m. — Grand Parade.
• 11 a.m. — Flag-raising.
• 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Street Fair.
• 11:30 a.m. — Skippers’ meeting; traditional dancing for children up to age 7.
• Noon — Traditional salmon bake.
• Noon to 7 p.m. — War Canoe Races.
• 1 p.m. — Traditional dancing for youth from 8 to 15.
• 3 p.m. — Youth Slahal Tournament.
• 6 p.m. — Adult traditional dancing.
• 10 p.m. — Slahal Tournament
• 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. — Youth activities.
Sunday
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Street Fair.
• 9 a.m. — Softball Championship Day.
• 10 a.m. — Bahokus Peak Challenge; Skippers’ meeting; War Canoe Races; Cornhole Tournament.
• Noon — Traditional salmon bake.
