When the big yellow school busses arrived one after another at Chewelah City Park on Thursday, September 26, they were greeting by the sound of a drum circle. Fourth- grade drummers from Wellpinit set the mood for a cheerful Spokane Salish Culture Day.
Seventh grade students from Mary Walker, Summit Valley, Columbia, Chewelah, Wellpinit and Valley schools filed into the seats at center stage in the park. A number of speakers, including Chewelah Mayor Dorothy Knauss, Monica Tonasket, Tribal Elder Pat Moses and Tribal Chairwoman Carol Evans talked about what this day meant.