Annual River Honoring fun, educational for students
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
MOIESE — “What is this animal?” Janene Lichtenberg asked students as she held a stuffed weasel before a tepee full of fourth graders. After the students decided it was a weasel, Lichtenberg, a Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal biologist, asked them to name a weasel’s favorite food.
After group discussion, one team said fruits and vegetables.
But no, weasels don’t like fruit salad, Lichtenberg explained, showing a stuffed vole, a rodent about five inches long, which are a weasel’s lunch of choice.
Lichtenberg and fellow biologist Stephanie Gillin displayed pelts, including a pine marten and a wolverine, and mounted birds and animals while quizzing students about the critters and their lives.
Gillin and Lichtenberg hosted one of 18 educational sites students visited at the annual River Honoring.
The River Honoring held on the Woodcock campsite on the Flathead River began in 1986, Germaine White, information officer for the CSKT Natural Resources Department, said. She said elders and cultural leaders, particularly Clarence Woodcock, were very concerned about the health of the river corridor and did not want Buffalo Rapids 3 and 4 and Knoles Dam placed on the river.
“The river has great natural and cultural value over the long terms — more than short-term economic gain,” White explained.
When the River Honoring began “its objective was to be a constant reminder of not only the significant role the Flathead River played in our tribes’ history but also how its importance to the tribes continues to the present day and on into the future,” according to a history of the River Honoring by CSKT Wildland Recreation Program manager Lester Bigcrane.
Choosing fourth and fifth grade students as the right age to learn about the river, Salish Kootenai College organized the River Honoring for a few years then CSKT Natural Resources took over planning the event in the 90s.
While River Honoring teaches students why the river is important, it’s also a lot of fun for the 800 to 1,000 area fourth and fifth graders invited.
Salish and Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee elders greeted students at the first station. “What are you thankful for?” elder Pat Pierre asked fifth grade students at the 2011 River Honoring.
A few answers were “my family,” “food,” and “sleeping.”
As well as being thankful for each new day “especially at my age,” Pierre said he was grateful for the Flathead River “because she is a provider.”
Then the drum and singing by Steve Small Salmon and crew signaled it was time to go to another station.
Stations were manned by scientists from CSKT Natural Resources, Tribal Fish and Game, the Division of Fire, SKC staff and the Backcountry Horsemen.
With a red loop and a blue loop, students spent a full day at the River Honoring. Native games in each loop had kids playing shinny and double ball, both involving running, strategy and teamwork.
As temperatures rose into the 70s, the division of fire station became popular. The firemen, after discussing their duties, turned the kids loose with the fire hoses so they could water each other down.
Fourth graders from Mrs. Morrison’s class at Linderman School had a hard time picking a favorite activity. One liked the aquatic insects, another playing shinny and a third enjoyed the wildlife tepee.
“I think when they learn experientially first-hand, that’s when kids really have a chance to understand for themselves,” White said. ”They get it.”
