Speaker: Reuben George

July 28, 2025, Friday Harbor, WA

The Salish Sea Series launched its inaugural gathering on the evening of July 28, 2025, at the scenic Spring Street Landing Clocktower in Friday Harbor, Washington.

Moderated by Se’Si’Le Director Dr. Kurt Russo. Speakers included Se’Si’Le President Jay Julius Xw’tot lem, Lummi Artist A.Cyaltsa April Finkbonner, and Rueben George from Tsleil-Waututh Nation. The event was held for an audience of Friday Harbor residents, islanders, and visitors.

Reflections and Conversations between Speakers and Audience

Conversations centered on the sacred salmon (scha’enexw) and orca (qwe’lhol’mechen), and the event invited attendees into an Indigenous-led vision of cultural revitalization, ecological stewardship, and intergenerational healing.

With deep reverence and open dialogue, the gathering set the tone for a series dedicated to reimagining and strengthening the relationships that define life around the Salish Sea.Each speaker shared personal reflections, ancestral knowledge, and urgent messages about restoring balance between people and place.

Artist and Presenter: A. Cyaltsa April Finkbonner

Gallery