Methow Memorial to expand exhibits at Pateros park

PATEROS – Following nearly a decade serving as the anchor attraction in Lakeshore Park, the Methow Memorial, a sculpture and interpretative installation celebrating the Methow Tribe, plans are underway to expand the exhibit.

The memorial centerpiece is a life-sized metal sculpture by the late Virgi; “Smoker” Marchand depicting an Indian spearfisherman mounted on horseback spearing salmon. The scene is recreated from a 1920’s photo of the mounted fisherman working the Methow River.

Pateros school alum Chuck Borg secured city council approval for the ambitious project and assembled a team of supporters to raise funds for and construct the multi-themed display. Along with the mounted fisherman sculpture is a second piece showing an Indian woman placing salmon filets on a drying rack. A painted tipi and large river rock barbecue used for the annual ceremonial salmon complement the stone, driftwood, and native plantings landscaping. Interpretive signs are placed through the exhibit. One of them reads:

Sacred Salmon

For the Methow and other people in the Columbia River Basin, salmon are an integral and sacred part of the culture.

Eyewitness accounts celebrate a river so full of returning salmon a person could walk across the river atop the backs of clustered fish. Methow fishermen harvested salmon by the thousands during seasonal runs. The valuable salmon were dried for winter food and used as trade currency with neighboring tribes.

Methow Salmon Chiefs organized traditional salmon harvests, where the people used sophisticated technologies to sustainably harvest this valuable resource. Sustainable practices ensured equal distribution of the harvest and continued future salmon runs. The people considered salmon their very lifeblood. To this day, Native Americans celebrate the annual salmon return as a continuation of life along the Pacific Northwest rivers.

Since its May 2017 dedication the exhibit’s popularity has fueled the initiative to utilize space adjacent to the memorial for further items. Pending council approval Borg’s planned additions include a council circle comprised of inlaid stones, more native plants, and added interpretive signage honoring Native American military veterans, and early Methow tribal life.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media