Watch canoe races, eat salmon barbecue at Stommish Water Festival

Lummi Nation celebrates its 70th annual Stommish Water Festival through this weekend with native canoe races and traditional dances and games.

Events run through Sunday, June 12, at the Stommish Grounds on Lummi View Drive near the Gooseberry Point ferry dock. Admission to the festival is free.

Stommish began in 1946, when Lummi veterans of World War I held a celebration for the safe return of the tribe’s soldiers who served in World War II. Events include war canoe races, a Sla-hal bone game tournament, a veterans pow wow, athletic events, songs and dancing, a salmon barbecue, a carnival and concerts featuring native entertainers.

For more information, call 360-393-2649, 360-927-0538, or go online to lumminationstommish.com. or the Lummi Stommish Water Festival page in Facebook.

This story was originally published June 10, 2016 at 10:56 AM with the headline "Watch canoe races, eat salmon barbecue at Stommish Water Festival."