LAPUSH — The annual three-day Quileute Days, which begins today, will focus on tribal culture, history and stories.
Quileute tribal officials hope that locals and tourists alike will join in on the fun and games in LaPush and learn about “History Through Our Traditions” — the theme of this year’s celebration.
Traditional games
Stick games, a traditional betting game, will run throughout the weekend, along with bingo and poker.
A traditional salmon bake, drawing out the best flavors in the fish, will be held both Saturday and Sunday, starting at noon each day and continuing until the salmon runs out.
Outdoor activities also will include a baseball tournament for all ages, horseshoe games and street dances.
The events will build to a grand parade featuring the tribe’s special guest — Gil Birmingham, who plays the fictional tribal chief in all of the “Twilight” saga movies, which are based on Stephenie Meyer’s four-book vampire series set in Forks, LaPush and Port Angeles.
‘Twilight’ events
The visit by the actor, who plays Billy Black, isn’t the only event catering to “Twilight” fans.
A Jacob Black and Bella Swan look-alike contest will be conducted at 5 p.m. Saturday.
(Edward Cullen — the vampire hero of the books — isn’t allowed on the reservation per the rules of the treaty laid out in the book.)
Fireworks at 10 p.m. Saturday will wrap up the main day of events, with the tournaments finishing up on Sunday.
The days also will be special because the tribe will be preparing for the annual Tribal Canoe Journey celebration, said Chairwoman Anna Rose Counsell-Geyer.
The celebration will be hosted by the Makah at Neah Bay this year, beginning Monday, the day after Quileute Days wraps up.
“Everyone is excited about both Quileute Days and the canoe journey festivities,” Counsell-Geyer said.
“We also want to share with everyone that we are including a $5 raffle for the first night’s stay in the newly remodeled Wolf Den [Cabin]. Gil will announce the winner at 4 p.m. [Saturday].”
The tribe recently conducted a naming contest for the custom log home available for rent by vacationers.
It is about 4.5 miles from the center of LaPush.
The winner — who was chosen by a community vote — of the naming competition of the Wolf Den is Naomi Jacobson, with the name La-Wats-Akil-Ati.
The translation is “Home of the Wolf” in the Quileute language.
HERE IS THE SCHEDULE FOR QUILEUTE DAYS IN LAPUSH:
Today
• 5 p.m.- 6 p.m. — Opening ceremony, A-Ka-Lat Center.
• 6 p.m. – 10 p.m. — Poker tourney Kickoff, West Wing.
• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. — Royalty pageant, A-Ka-Lat Center.
• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. — Adult baseball tourney kickoff, Coast Guard Field.
• 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. — Youth baseball tourney, Quileute Tribal Council Field.
• 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. — Fried bread cook-off, Community Center.
• 6 p.m.- Midnight — Stick games kickoff, Community Center.
Saturday
• 8 a.m. — Blessing of the Day, River Drive.
• 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. — Adult baseball tourney, Coast Guard Field.
• 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. — Youth baseball tourney, Quileute Tribal Council Field.
• 10:30 a.m. — Parade lineup, Fisheries parking lot.
• 11 a.m. – noon — Canoe races, Fisheries
• 11 a.m. – noon — Float judging, Fisheries parking lot.
• noon – 1 p.m. — Parade, Main Street.
• noon – 3 p.m. — Salmon Bake, in front of the Tribal Office.
• 1 p.m. — Horseshoe Signup, adult ball field.
• 1 p.m. — Nanda performance, River Drive.
• 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. — Comedian Mitch Factor, River Drive.
• 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. — Children’s performance, River Drive.
• 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. — Comedian Freddie Lane, River Drive.
• 3 p.m. – 4 p.m. — Fire dancers, River Drive.
• 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. — Open stage for local bands, River Drive.
• 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. — Nanda workshop, River Drive.
• 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. — Poker tourney, West Wing.
• 2 p.m.-3 p.m. — Kids’ carnival, on the side of the Tribal Office.
• 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. — Horseshoe tourney, side of the adult ball field.
• 6 p.m. – 7 p.m. — Fried bread cook-off, Community Center.
• 3 p.m. – midnight — Stick games, Community Center.
• 3 p.m. — Bingo, Tribal Council Office.
• 9 p.m. – midnight — Street dances, River Drive.
• 10 p.m.-11 p.m. — Fireworks, First Beach.
Sunday
• 9 a.m.-noon — Adult baseball tourney, Coast Guard Field.
• 9 a.m.-noon — Youth baseball tourney, Quileute Tribal Council Field.
• 11 a.m. – noon — Canoe Races, Fisheries.
• 1 p.m. – 10 p.m. — Bingo, Tribal Council Office.
• 2 p.m. – 10 p.m. — Poker tourney, West Wing.
• 3 p.m. – midnight — Stick games, Community Center.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.
