Honoring Salmon, Culture, and Community at Oxbow Regional Park
Hello friends and relatives,
We are honored to share that Wisdom of the Elders will be joining this year’s Salmon Homecoming, happening Saturday and Sunday, October 18–19, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at Oxbow Regional Park.
Hosted by Metro Parks and Nature in collaboration with an incredible planning team of Indigenous educators, artists, and culture keepers, this gathering celebrates the return of the salmon, a time of reflection, gratitude, and renewal. It’s more than a festival; it’s a living expression of connection between the people, the land, and the sacred waters that sustain us all.
Honoring the Salmon and Our Shared Stories
Each fall, as the salmon journey home, so too do our communities come together in celebration and learning. This two-day event creates a fun and safe space for Native families and the broader community to gather, honor the salmon, and experience Indigenous culture through art, song, and storytelling.
Throughout the weekend, you can enjoy:
- 11:00–11:30 a.m. – Drumming at Alder Shelter
- 11:35 a.m.–12:35 p.m. – Cultural dancing by Shochicalli Toltec–Chichimec Dance Group
- 12:40–1:25 p.m. – Storytelling with Ed Edmo at Beaver Shelter
- 1:30–2:15 p.m. – Cultural dancing by Iksiks Washana’lama (Little Swan Dancers)
- 2:20–2:55 p.m. – Storytelling with Savahna Jackson at Beaver Shelter
Throughout the day, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., enjoy salmon tastings, an Indigenous Marketplace, tabling by organizations, food vendors, games, and hands-on crafts such as weaving and printmaking.
Visit the Wisdom of the Elders Booth
We’re deeply grateful to be part of this celebration again. We invite you to stop by our booth to meet our team, learn more about our work, and share stories with us. We’ll be sharing about our programs that uplift Indigenous voices through storytelling, ecological knowledge, and cultural education.
Come by to connect, to listen, to laugh, and to reflect on how our shared efforts continue to support the health of our lands, waters, and communities. Whether you’re a longtime supporter or just getting to know us, we would love to see you and hear your stories.
A Celebration of Connection
Salmon Homecoming is a reminder that when we gather, we strengthen our relationships — with each other, with the land, and with the salmon who give so much. Each drumbeat, each story, and each dance is a thread woven into our shared history and our collective healing.
Bring your family, friends, and open hearts to celebrate with us as we honor the salmon’s return and all that it teaches us about resilience, balance, and renewal.
- October 18–19, 2025
- 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Oxbow Regional Park, Oregon
Learn more here: Salmon Homecoming 2025 – Oregon Metro
We hope to see you there to come celebrate with Wisdom of the Elders, visit our booth, and share in a weekend of community, culture, and salmon.