Sturgeon-nosed canoes launch from Coeur d’Alene beach

Fri., June 10, 2016

From staff reports

The Coeur d’Alene Tribe’s canoe journey to Kettle Falls continued this morning with the launch of sturgeon-nosed canoes from Coeur d’Alene’s City Beach.

Tribal elder Sile-Markh Stanger sang an honor song and put on a beaded breast-plate before he and three other men headed off shortly after 9 a.m. They planned to paddle down the Spokane River to Q’emlin Park in Post Falls.

They’ll portage around seven dams before meeting the Spokane Tribe on the lower river this weekend. “We’ll go over them in spirit,” Stanger said the dams.

The tribe’s 35-foot dugout canoe remained out of the water today for minors repairs.

Five Upper Columbia tribes are meeting at Kettle Falls on the Columbia River on June 17 for a solstice celebration and salmon ceremony.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Sturgeon-nosed canoes launch from Coeur d’Alene beach

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

'I don't have anybody': Idaho is seeing its police flock to Washington agencies for better pay

Idaho lawmakers seek immigration status of HIV patients using state resources

‘Sick and wrong’: Boise firm designing Idaho firing squad chamber draws protest