NEAH BAY — Eleven years before the Makah people were deemed citizens of the United States, Dr. Joseph K. Dixon presented the tribe with an American flag.
It was part of the 1913 “Rodman Wanamaker Expedition of Citizenship to the North American Indian,” an effort to raise the American flag over every tribal reservation in the country.
On Aug. 26, 1913, Albert Irving, James Peterson and Luke Markishtum raised the flag over the Makah Tribe.
At 11 a.m. Saturday, their direct descendants will continue the tradition on the 104th anniversary of the flag raising.
Makah Days, going on now until Sunday, celebrates both the original flag raising and the Indian Citizenship Act, which President Calvin Coolidge signed into law June 2, 1924.
“Due to these historic and pivotal events,” Maria Pascua wrote for the 2017 Makah Days’ promotional material, “we celebrate our right to live our culture, sing our songs and freely express ourselves using our traditional dances which have been suppressed by the U.S. government for approximately 70 years.”
The celebration always occurs during the weekend nearest to Aug. 26 — the anniversary of the original flag raising.
Due to a recent grant, the Makah Tribe was able to gain access to historical photographs and artifacts from that day in 1913, and they will be on display at the Makah Cultural &Research Center, located at 1880 Bayview Ave., during Makah Days.
Today, a street fair, traditional Makah games, youth canoe races, a talent show and 2017 royalty coronation, fireworks, slahal games, “bone hog” tournament and modern dance are on tap from noon until 1 a.m. Saturday.
Reigning 2016 Makah Days Queen Edith McCarty-Corpuz, 22, will pass off her title during the royalty coronation. The 2017 candidate, MichaeLynn Kanichy, graduated from Stanford University in 2014 with a bachelor’s degree in society, technology and science. She plans on putting her Makah Days scholarship of $500 toward obtaining her master’s degree.
Candidates for queen, junior miss, princess, warrior, junior warrior and prince are chosen based on scores tallied by personal essays, letters of recommendation, interviews and regalia. Interview questions include: Why do we celebrate Makah Days? What do you enjoy most about Makah Days? What village does your family come from? Why is this knowledge important to you?
Saturday features an all-day softball tournament, continued street fair, the grand parade, flag raising, traditional Makah dancing, adult canoe races, youth field games, slahal 3-on-3 tournament and modern dance.
Sunday continues the street fair, canoe races, youth field games and softball tournament — plus Bahokus Peak Challenge, a 3-mile uphill race with an elevation gain of nearly 1,400 feet, and a new tug of war tournament.
Traditional food during Makah Days will include sockeye salmon baked over an open fire, yellow fingerling potatoes, fresh corn on the cob, baked beans, homemade buckskin bread and watermelon slices.
For more information, visit makah.com.
The schedule for Makah Days:
Today
• Noon to 10 p.m. — Street fair at Bayview Avenue.
• 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. — Traditional Makah games at the Front Beach platform.
• 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. — Youth canoe races at Front Beach.
• 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Talent show and 2017 royalty coronation in the community gym.
• 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. — Fireworks extravaganza at Bayview Avenue.
• 10 p.m. — Open slahal games in the community gym; “bone hog” tournament (2-on-2) in the community gym.
• 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. — Modern dance at the Makah Teen Center.
Saturday
• 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Softball tournament at Neah Bay High School, 3560 Deer St.
• 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. — Street fair.
• 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. — Grand parade along Bayview Avenue from the museum to the senior center.
• 11 a.m. — Flag raising by the grandstand.
• 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Traditional Makah dancing at the Front Beach platform.
• Noon to 5 p.m. — Traditional salmon bake by the senior center.
• Noon to 7 p.m. — Men’s and women’s canoe races at Front Beach.
• 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. — Traditional youth Makah dancing at the Front Beach platform.
• 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. — Youth field games at the Front Beach platform.
• 3 p.m. — Slahal 3 on 3 tournament at the Front Beach platform; youth slahal tournament at the Front Beach platform.
• 6 p.m. — Traditional adult Makah dancing in the community gym.
• 7 p.m. — Slahal tournament in the community hall.
• 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. — Modern dance at the Makah Teen Center.
Sunday
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Street fair.
• 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Men’s and women’s canoe races at Front Beach.
• 10 a.m. — Bahokus Peak Challenge.
• Noon to 5 p.m. — Traditional salmon bake by the senior center.
• Noon to 3 p.m. — Youth field games at the Front Beach platform.
• 1 p.m. — Tug o’ war tournament at the Front Beach platform.
• 3 p.m. — Softball tournament finals.
________
Reporter Sarah Sharp can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 56650, or at ssharp@peninsuladailynews.com.
