August 2013 Volume 47 Issue 8
swədəbš qyuuqs News
pedTaqa? (pud-TA-kah) Moon of the Salal berry
“Much of August is ‘the moon of salal berry.’ During this moon, many plants are ready to harvest. Salal berries are picked, mashed, dried, and made into cakes. Currants and trailing blackberry are also ripe at this time. Meanwhile camas leaves shrivel, making it a particularly good time to harvest the bulbs. Chinook runs are reaching their peak with the summer run continuing and the fall run starting up the river. Fall Chinook run through the next two moons. Salmon in rivers are caught using weirs, dip nets and spears. Seals, which are also fishing for salmon, are hunted near the fishing sites. Salmon are eaten fresh and a large amount is dried for winter use. This moon signals a good time to wind dry the fish, before the insects increase.”—13 Moons: The 13 Lunar Phases, And How They Guide the Swinomish People. By swelitub (Todd A. Mitchell) & Jamie L. Donatuto