Photo: Trumpeter Swan chest X-ray with lead in the gizzard

The Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes hosted the 21st Annual River Honoring May 7th through the 9th. The River Honoring is a collaborative outdoor educational event sponsored by the Natural Resources Department, Tribal Education Department, Kicking Horse Job Corps Center, Salish-Pend d' Oreille Culture Committee, Salish Kootenai College and other Tribal and community programs.

Thousands of students from all across the Reservation have attended this outdoor environmental education event in the past and more than 800 students attended this year. The River Honoring site is located along the Lower Flathead River where Crow Creek enters the Flathead River near Moiese.

The primary goal of the River Honoring is to increase public awareness and community involvement in the maintenance and preservation of the Lower Flathead River corridor. It combines resource specialists, concerned members of the public, and area 4th and 5th grade school children in educational programs and activities demonstrating how everyday choices affect the river and its ecosystem.

A community event on the first day of the River Honoring began with the naming of the 2007 River Honorees. Two elders and two educators are generally recognized for their contributions to maintaining the values and understanding of the Lower Flathead River Corridor. This years Honorees were; Matt Michel, Niarada, Clara Bourdon, St. Ignatius, Johnny Arlee, Arlee and Barney Finley, Ronan. A catered barbeque followed.

The next two days were filled with resource specialists and educators introducing topics such as water quality, forestry, fire, wildlife, fisheries, and other resource management issues to students. These short presentations educate the students and public on the role the Tribes are taking to preserve the river while also informing students and the public on what can be done to reduce impacts to the ecosystem.

The public can attend any or all three days, and volunteers are welcome.